Culture chief goes sick as report on fiasco awaited

Oct 16 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

THE MAN who heads Liverpool’s Culture year has taken sick leave just before publication of a report on the Mathew Street fiasco.

But last night sources close to Jason Harborow insisted that the under-fire chief executive of Liverpool Culture Company would be back at work soon to lead the city into its flagship year.

Speculation across the city has been growing suggesting that Mr Harborow may quit his job, and this has been fuelled by his absence and the fact he has recently sold a large detached house he owns in Wirral.

“Jason has spent the last four years preparing Liverpool for 2008 and he has no intention of walking away with eight weeks to go. It’s just unfortunate that his illness has coincided with this report,” said the source.

The Daily Post understands that report will:

Clear Mr Harborow of any wrong-doing in the fiasco that led to large elements of the Mathew Street Festival being cancelled over the August bank holiday weekend.

Examine funding issues surrounding the Mathew Street Festival and the 800th birthday parade that took place on the Tuesday after the bank holiday.

Scrutinise the process, particularly the chain of command, for reporting the health and safety issues that caused the cancellation of outdoor stages.

The delay in publishing the report is thought to be linked to lawyers having to study it because it raises the question of disciplinary action against officers.

But last night Cllr Joe Anderson claimed the report was being “deliberately withheld” so that it could be sanitised.

Council leader Warren Bradley said the report would be made public when it was ready.

It is understood that Mr Harborow went off sick last week with a long-standing health condition.

The source close to Mr Harborow said he had holiday time booked next week and was expected back the week after next, provided his doctor approves.

Cllr Anderson said: “Two weeks ago the chief executive told me he was sending it to the city solicitor to be checked because there were concerns about it naming council officers.

“I am extremely angry the report is being withheld.”

He said he suspected the report was being withheld so that it could be “sanitised and neutered” and to avoid it being discussed by the council tomorrow.

Cllr Bradley said: “I have not seen it yet, when it’s ready it will be put into the public domain.”

A spokesman for the city council said: “The report will be published when it is completed and it is not complete as yet.”

Last night, a spokesman for the Culture Company said the organisation had “no comment” to make about Mr Harborow’s sick leave, and Mr Harborow was not available for comment.

davidbartlett@dailypost.co.uk