CITY leader Warren Bradley has demanded culture boss Jason Harborow’s head over the Mathew Street festival debacle.

A secret email today revealed Cllr Bradley’s fury at the cancellation of the showpiece event.

But critics today said the memo to council chief executive Colin Hilton made a mockery of authority claims that an inquiry into the fiasco was independent.

'Harborow must go'

CULTURE boss Jason Harborow faced calls for his head hours after the Mathew Street festival was axed.

Council leader Warren Bradley emailed town hall chief executive Colin Hilton from abroad, demanding Mr Harborow was “relieved of his duties”.

He said: “Nothing short of my request will be deemed acceptable.”

Critics today said the email made a mockery of council claims that the ongoing investigation into the festival’s cancellation was independent.

The top-secret memo was sent on Friday August 3, the day after Europe’s biggest free music festival was suddenly cancelled.

It even suggests a replacement for Mr Harborow – Ben Dolan, a senior official in the regeneration department.

But two and a half weeks later, Mr Harborow is still in post as the Culture Company’s chief executive and the council’s director of culture, media and sport.

Council leaders are understood to be waiting for the conclusion of their inquiry into the fiasco before deciding if anyone should face disciplinary action.

Politicians today reacted with amazement that Mr Harborow faced such an explicit call for him to be removed from his post in charge of 2008 preparations before the investigation had finished.

Cllr Joe Anderson, leader of the Labour opposition, said: “It proves Cllr Bradley was misleading the public by saying the inquiry would be independent and not influenced by him, and at the same time instructing Mr Hilton to suspend Mr Harborow.

“The Liberal Democrats are trying to shift responsibility to officers and they clearly want Mr Harborow’s head to deflect any criticism of their mishandling of the situation.”

In the email, headed “strictly private and confidential”, Cllr Bradley said his request was “mandated by the ruling group” on the council.

He said: “This will remove the stress that Jason must be feeling at this time, while allowing for an unfettered independent investigation.

“As agreed yesterday, Ben Dolan should be installed as the interim manager to oversee the full operation of Liverpool Culture Company.

“I take absolutely no satisfaction in requesting this, but as leader of the council, I have a responsibility to be seen to be strong, while being fair and honest.

“I have taken, extremely unfairly, the brunt of the criticism, and am now requesting this decisive move.”

After the festival was axed on August 2, Lib Dem councillors reacted furiously, insisting they knew nothing of the health and safety problems which led to its cancellation.

Cllr Bradley said the first he was told of any safety concerns had been the previous evening, when he was contacted while on a family holiday.

By the evening of August 2 he publicly called on Mr Hilton to launch an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the cancellation, although Labour councillors said it should be carried out by someone from outside the town hall.

But privately his Lib Dem group had called on him to demand Mr Harborow was removed from his post which resulted him sending the email to the chief executive.

The council investigation has been going on for more than two weeks, but has yet to be completed. Mr Hilton spent last week on compassionate leave.

However, its findings are expected sooner rather than later.

Cllr Bradley today said: “The internal investigation will provide information that will show the way forward for the Culture Company and Capital of Culture.”

But Cllr Anderson said: “The Lib Dems promised us an independent inquiry, but have shown they have already made up their mind about who is to blame. The public deserve a truly independent inquiry by an external lawyer.”

Neither Mr Hilton or Mr Harborow commented on the email today.

A council spokesman said: “The council and the Culture Company are unable to make any public comment while the investigation into Mathew Street is ongoing.”

An indoor version of the festival will take place this weekend, without the outdoor stages deemed too risky by safety experts last month.

nick.coligan@liverpool.com

The leaked email >>>