Liverpool City Council’s deputy chief executive and director of finance has resigned, the mayor announced yesterday.
Mel Creighton has resigned and will leave her role at the end of August. She had been with council for three-and-a-half years.
Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson said: “Mel Creighton has informed the council that she wishes to pursue new opportunities elsewhere, and we respect her decision.”
Liverpool City Council chief executive Tony Reeves added: “I have today accepted Mel Creighton’s resignation. We are now having discussions with the commissioners about the arrangements to be put in place to recruit a successor.”
Commissioners were sent in to Liverpool last summer after an independent report uncovered multiple serious failures by Liverpool City Council in complying with its best value duty.
Earlier this month external audit firm, Mazars, was appointed Liverpool to conduct a further investigation after it emerged that the council was at risk of having to spend an extra £15m on energy bills.
In a report to its cabinet, commissioners criticised the circumstances that led to “failures or errors in contract management, forward planning, procurement, risk management, governance, controls, and capabilities”.
Liverpool had a duel fuel contract with Scottish Power which was up for renewal earlier this year. But by the time the cabinet met to discuss the issue Scottish Power had already withdrawn from the commercial energy market.
The council is now set to enter an electricity contract with the government’s Crown Commercial Services (CCS).
The council believes the financial impact of the decision equates to an increase in energy costs from £10.6m to £26m.
Although the council’s energy budget was increased as part of the budget set in March, the anticipated further cost rises may result in an estimated budget shortfall of £4.5m.
Mazars is due to file its report by the end of this month and Liverpool has committed to making the findings public.
