The interim chief executive at Liverpool Council wants to give the city a “good opportunity for the future” but is aware of the scale of the challenge.
Theresa Grant said her previous experience at turning round beleaguered local authorities in the shape of Northamptonshire stood her in good stead for her eight month period in charge at the Cunard Building. Ms Grant started her role four weeks ago, having been appointed following the resignation of former chief executive Tony Reeves.
Ms Grant, who also had a stint at Trafford Council, said coming to the city was a job she “really wanted to do” and her previous success elsewhere convinced her to step into the breach. She said: “Having gone into Northamptonshire, which was the first council to go bankrupt in 50 years, the scale here didn’t scare me at all, neither did the challenge, you have to be somebody who actually enjoys a challenge to do something like this and I found I enjoyed so much of the experience I had in Northamptonshire, and it was such a positive experience.
READ MORE: War veteran flooded streets with heroin as he struggled to pay off his own debts
“I worked brilliantly with the commissioners, we turned it around, we took it out of bankruptcy, I left it with £105m of revenue reserves, despite it having nothing when I got there. Walking away knowing I’d turned it around to such an extent, with the help of such a fantastic workforce, made me want to come here and the scale of the challenge isn’t scary but I’d like to try and do the same and give it a good opportunity for the future.”
This summer, it was revealed a string of mistakes at the Cunard Building have added as much as £16 million onto the city's energy bill. The same energy deal provides electricity for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and maintained schools across the city.
As councillors and schools probe for answers as to the financial impact they will face, Ms Grant conceded the council was not yet in a position to confirm it. She said: “We’re still looking at this year’s budget internally and we haven’t finalised what that’s going to look like yet.
“Obviously we’re fully aware of the energy impact which will impact on our reserves, and until we have a really clear picture of our in year challenges, we’re not in a position to say what we can and can’t do in terms of schools.” Ms Grant said she knew the issues around Liverpool Council’s contracts was “an area of high importance” and she “knew it would be a priority” as she got behind the wheel.
She added: “I have seen what’s been planned, what’s been done, the checks and balances that have been put in place, which are fairly thorough. You don’t want to stop the organisation functioning by putting too many in as it can cause bottlenecks.
“We’re out to recruit for a head of procurement and I hope that will help with the plans we have and we’re implementing as we speak, around better processes, more electronic processes and not just depending on human error.”
Get the top stories straight to your inbox by signing up to our what's on newsletter
READ NEXT:
Murderer jailed for 18 years for killing boyfriend after night in the pub
Warning to homeowners as energy bills help cut in Jeremy Hunt's mini-budget U-turn
Woman's chilling text messages before she killed boyfriend
Man arrested on suspicion of drugs production after police search home
