Jason Harborow: I'm returning to work soon

Nov 2 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

THE man who heads Liverpool’s Culture year is “determined” to return to work after it emerged he had been signed off for three more weeks.

Sources close to Jason Harborow said the chief executive of the Liverpool Culture Company had every intention of getting back to work.

It came as the report into the Mathew Street Festival cancellation fiasco was still to be published.

The earliest the report could be released is today. But this is unlikely as council leader Warren Bradley is not due back in the city until this morning.

Cllr Bradley has been in Munich for the past two days for the announcement that Liverpool would host the MTV Europe Music Awards next year.

Earlier it was revealed Mr Harborow had been signed off work due to a long-standing health condition.

There has been growing speculation that he will not return to work.

The rumours were fuelled by revelations Mr Harborow had recently sold a house on the Wirral.

Sources at the council said Mr Harborow’s position came under doubt after details of an email in which Cllr Bradley called for him to be “relieved of his duties” were leaked.

Privately council sources have admitted that it was difficult to see a situation where both men could remain in their positions following the breakdown.

Cllr Bradley faced calls for his resignation from the Labour opposition at numerous points during the affair, but always dismissed the demands saying he was getting on with the job.

Last night, a source close to Mr Harborow revealed: “Jason has every intention of coming back to work.

“He went to see his doctor last week who was adamant that he did not go back to work.”

Mr Harborow was signed off for three further weeks and is due back until Monday November 19.

“He is feeling a lot better than a couple of weeks ago, and can’t wait to get back,” added the source. It is understood the report into the Mathew Street Festival cancellation will clear Mr Harborow of any wrong-doing in the fiasco that led to large elements of the event being cancelled over the August bank holiday weekend.

The report sets out to:-

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.

davidbartlett