A range of reforms to the way Liverpool Council functions were cleared by a key committee.
The council’s constitutional issues committee approved a new code of conduct for councillors and changes to its financial regulations on Thursday evening.
The measures are part of a wider array of changes within the local authority in response to a damning government investigation into the way parts of the council have previously functioned, resulting in the government sending commissioners to the city.
In addition to changes to governance measures, there is also set to be electoral reform, with a redrawing of ward boundaries, a reduction in the number of councillors and a move to all-out elections every four years.
The electoral reforms were not discussed last night.
There will be an extraordinary meeting of the full council next week to discuss the overall council response to Max Caller’s report ahead of the expected arrival of commissioners to oversee aspects of the council’s operations.
The changes discussed on Thursday evening were passed largely with broad agreement from all four parties sitting on the council, though opposition parties requested further clarity in some areas.
In particular, they queried why approval was being granted in principle for the appointment of up to 13 mayoral leads – despite new mayor Joanne Anderson pledging not to appoint any.
Mayor Anderson said that if she were to change her mind she would bring any potential appointments to full council for scrutiny and approval.
However, Lib Dem leader Richard Kemp, Green leader Tom Crone and Liberal leader Steve Radford all questioned why the power to recruit mayoral leads, who earn an allowance, remained in the proposals despite her pledge.
Mr Radford said he was “a bit uncomfortable” with providing approval for that section of the proposals.
He said: “It does seem a bit bizarre to say ‘well we are not going to have them but that we are going to approve the financing of them’.”
Opposition parties agreed to pass the proposals as presented when mayor Anderson indicated she was happy to have her pledge to bring any potential appointments to full council formally recorded in the meeting minutes.
Although the proposal was approved, unless mayoral leads are appointed then no money will be used.
In addition to the reforms, councillors also progressed the nomination of Mary Rasmussen to be Lord Mayor of the city for the coming year, with Roy Gladden set to be her deputy.
That nomination is expected to be passed at the council’s annual general meeting at the end of the month.
