More big changes have been made at the top of troubled Liverpool City Council.
The council remains under the supervision of a team of government commissioners, who were installed a year ago as a result of a hugely damning inspection report. That inspection, by Max Caller, lifted the lid on years of failings, problems and wasted money within the council's regeneration, property management and highways departments.
But the council's problems have continued. In May it was revealed that a series of calamitous mistakes over a new electricity contract could end up costing the city of Liverpool an additional £16 million in energy costs. In the wake of the scandal, the deputy mayor Jane Corbett was removed from the finance cabinet role, with former cabinet member Paul Brant brought in as assistant mayor for finance.
READ MORE: Quitting Liverpool Council director will continue to be paid for three months
The council's director of finance and deputy chief executive, Mel Creighton, resigned from her position in the wake of the energy contract saga. Ms Creighton is currently signed off work, she will officially leave her role at the end of August.
The energy contract saga is now being investigated in an independent audit by accounting firm Mazars. They are expected to report back on their findings by the end of the month, with Mayor Joanne Anderson demanding full accountability for the mistakes made.
At the same time, the council is bracing itself for a second report from the commissioners - and it is not expected to be good. The ECHO understands that report has been sent to the Department for Levelling Up and will be published in the coming weeks.
Against this backdrop, council chief executive Tony Reeves sent an email to all councillors regarding some changes to the senior officer roles within the council. Mr Reeves acknowledged that the council had 'experienced some really significant challenges during the last few weeks, and that this is on top of what is already a period of change and transition for the council.'
In his email, Mr Reeves confirmed that with Ms Creighton currently absent from work and currently in her notice period, Chris Buss, recently appointed as deputy finance chief would begin acting up. He said: "Should Mel return to work in her notice period, Chris will revert to his previous role of deputy s.151 officer during this time."
He also announced that Ian O'Donnell, another 'experienced finance professional' will join the council this week. Mr Reeves said: "He will join on an interim basis to support the finance transformation work and to also lead on the intensive procurement transformation work required. He will work alongside Peter Casterton and Andrew Buck to really strengthen our capacity in Finance and Procurement to deal with the challenges ahead of us."
Another big change is coming in the council's development directorate, with interim boss Mark Bousfield leaving the council. He joined from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority last year following the dismissal of regeneration director Nick Kavanagh.
In his email, Mr Reeves paid tribute to Mr Bousfield, stating: "Mark has done a tremendous job during the last year, counting amongst his achievements the launch of three major projects – Littlewoods, Hemisphere and King’s Dock – as well as getting the council’s new social value policy off the ground. We wish him well for the future."
He will be replaced as strategic director Mark Bourgeois, who will join on a temporary basis whilst a permanent replacement is recruited. Mr Reeves said: "Mark arrives with more than 30 years’ experience – chiefly within the private sector. He was most recently Managing Director for UK and Ireland at Hammerson plc and his remit at LCC will be to drive priority projects and build investor confidence, whilst developing our development, estates and highways functions.
"I’m excited at Mark’s newness to local government, he will undoubtedly bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the table, and he is already enjoying his time living in Liverpool, having no previous connections to the city."
