MHCLG appoints independent commissioners to support Liverpool City Council

Article summary

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) has appointed a team of independent commissioners to oversee Liverpool City Council’s implementation of rapid improvements to the city of Liverpool. According to MHCLG, the March 2021 independent report revealed that Liverpool City Council failed to comply with its Best Value Duty, especially uncovering ‘a deeply concerning picture of mismanagement, which included serious failures of governance, a lack of scrutiny and regard of public funds, and a culture of intimidation at the council’. MHCLG aims to use the independent experts to aid the Council with making far-reaching changes within the its governance. MHCLG says that the commissioners will have the ultimate authority to intervene should they be dissatisfied with the Council’s day-to-day decisions and improvements.  The commissioners will be in place until June 2024, and is said to update the MHCLG with progress reports every six months.