Mayor of Liverpool Ned Mannoun says plans to suspend the council are based on “a shopping list of unfounded allegations by unknown people who may hold a grudge against me and the Council’’.
He was responding to the release of the interim report of the Office of Local Government into Liverpool City Council and the minister’s intention to hold a public inquiry, suspend council and postpone the September 14 election.
“None of those named in the report have had the opportunity to rebut the allegations that have been made. This to me is a gross denial of natural justice,’’ says Mayor Mannoun, pictured above in June.
“I am not surprised that there is going to be a public inquiry – there is a resolution of council asking for an inquiry and I wrote to the Minister asking for an inquiry.
“Suspending the Council is a bad idea, because it limits the capacity of the Council and its elected officials to fully respond to the report and participate in the inquiry.
“It makes me wonder why the Minister wants to deny me and my councillors access to Council support.
“Both the Council and I will be making a full response to the interim report once we have fully reviewed its comments.
“The minister has given seven days to make a response. I assure you a full response will be made and I will be circulating it widely.’’
Acting CEO Jason Breton said Liverpool Council will continue to co-operate with the Office of Local Government and will participate in the public inquiry when it is called.
“At this time, Council is reviewing the interim report, its content and the allegations it contains and will be making a fuller response to its contents in due course,’’ he said.
Meanwhile the two local Labor MPs, Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty and Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda (pictured at right) have welcomed the Minister for Local Government’s announcement of a public inquiry into Liverpool City Council.
“This is a long time coming. The dysfunction and maladministration reported within Liverpool City Council highlight serious issues that need to be addressed urgently,’’ Mr Hagarty said.
“I welcome the public inquiry. It is a necessary step to bring transparency and accountability to the Council’s operations, ensuring that the community’s interests come first.
“There are serious issues here that cannot be ignored. The detailed concerns about recruitment practices, procurement irregularities, and inappropriate record-keeping demonstrate a profound lack of integrity in council operations.
“This inquiry is essential to uncover the full extent of the issues and to restore confidence in Liverpool City Council’s ability to serve its community,’’ he said.
Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda said the interim report confirmed what Liverpool residents have known for some time: that dysfunction at Liverpool City Council is widespread across the organisation and impacting its capacity to perform its basic functions for residents and ratepayers.
“I welcome today’s announcement of a public inquiry. It is essential that these serious concerns are investigated to their fullest extent in an open and transparent forum,’’ Ms Kaliyanda said.
“Liverpool deserves a Council with integrity, that is squarely focused on the needs of our communities. I look forward to this process to help do just that.”
