Liverpool residents are paying thousands of pounds every month to fund hotels, travel and food for government commissioners working in the city - who have recently received a huge pay rise.
Last month, the ECHO revealed the four Whitehall commissioners, who were appointed to the council by the Conservative ministers last June, had been awarded 50% pay increases, backdated to when they arrived - and paid for by the people of Liverpool.
The commissioners were appointed to oversee work at the council for three years after the devastating Max Caller report revealed huge failings at the city council.
READ MORE: Staggering amount government commissioners will earn in Liverpool
The controversial pay increase, which has been heavily criticised but reluctantly accepted by local leaders, means that lead commissioner Mike Cunningham has had his daily rate of pay increased from £800 to £1,200 and is set for an annual pay packet of £180,000 for each of the three years that he is working in Liverpool.
His supporting team of Joanna Killian, Deborah McLaughlin and Neil Gibson have seen their daily rate rise from £700 to £1,100, meaning they are in line for £165,000 each year - paid for by city residents.
However, the ECHO can now reveal that on top of these large, increased pay packets, the government commissioners are also claiming thousands of pounds worth of expenses from the city coffers as well.
Newly released figures show that for the first six months of their time at the council, June to November last year, the four government staff claimed nearly £6,500 for travel, hotels and meals.
Lead commissioner Mr Cunningham claimed a total of £1,251.63 on rail travel, hotels, car mileage and food between June and November, alongside £69,041 in fees.
Jo Killian claimed £1,184.72 in expenses in her first six months working in Liverpool, on top of £44,000 in fees.
Deborah McLaughilin claimed back a total of £1,032.22 in expenses as well as £63,533 between June and November 2021.
Neil Gibson claimed the most expenses of the four commissioners in the first six months, with a total of £3,007 on hotels, travel and food costs.
This is on top of the £85,379.62 he was paid in fees in that time.
Liverpool's Liberal Democrat leader, Cllr Richard Kemp, has been highly critical of the pay increase for the commissioners.
Speaking about the new expense payment revelations, he said: " We already knew the daily rate figures but when you see it in the context of actual cash it really is eye watering. You'd think that on these rates they would be able to afford to pay for their own sausage rolls on a motorway service station going home.
"To put this in context, three of the Commissioners have already retired on generous public sector pensions.
"They will now earn in three years as Commissioners as an additional sum of money at least twice what an average local or central government civil servant will put in their pension pot in the whole of their working life."
He added: "My gut feeling is that they are not value for money, which is ironic as they have been brought in following a 'Best Value' Inspection".
The amounts being paid to the commissioners have been criticised by parties across the political divides in Liverpool.
Mayor Joanne Anderson, who took over the running of the city in the wake of the Caller Report and accepts that intervention is required - said she was "appalled" at the recent 50% pay increase, which comes as her council are trying to find a further £34m in cuts.
Liverpool Green party leader Tom Crone also said he was "disgusted" by the rise.
He added: "It's true that after the catastrophic failures of the previous mayor some kind of intervention was inevitable, but to hike the bill for no apparent reason when the council has no choice but to comply is difficult to understand."
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