Criticism mounts against pay rise for government commissioners in Liverpool

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Councillors from all political parties in Liverpool have criticised the government's decision to award officials overseeing council departments a pay rise - and asking the council to pay for it. At a meeting last night, Green group leader Tom Crone claimed the city is being used as a “piggy bank to take money from” by the government to pay commissioners who were appointed to oversee four departments after a damning inspection report last year. Yesterday the city's five MPs wrote to the Secretary of State Michael Gove saying the government should meet the cost of the pay rise, not the council tax payers of Liverpool. The increase is expected to be approved by the council's cabinet later. A spokesperson from the Department for Levelling Up said: “As in all statutory interventions, the cost of Commissioners is met by the council. “Commissioners have been appointed to oversee improvements at Liverpool City Council and these fees are in line with the going rate for senior council executives.” Chair of the Labour group on the council, Anthony Lavelle told our Political Reporter he hopes the commissioners will reject the pay rise.