Under-fire Capital of Culture chief will be ‘back soon’

Nov 20 2007 by Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL Culture Company chief executive Jason Harborow yesterday met Liverpool City Council chief executive Colin Hilton to discuss his return to work.

Mr Harborow is expected to be back at his office in two weeks time, depending on a detailed assessment over the coming fortnight.

The under-fire culture chief has been away from work on sick leave for seven weeks, prompting speculation in some quarters that he would never return to his office.

But Mr Harborow insists he plans to resume his work as soon as he is medically fit, to oversee Liverpool’s Capital of Culture programme.

He had indicated that he would return to work yester-day, but he has been signed off for two more weeks.

Aa council spokesman said last night: “Liverpool Culture Company chief executive Jason Harborow met with Colin Hilton this morning (Monday) to discuss a phased return to work based on medical advice. It is antici-pated that, subject to a detail-ed assessment, this will start in two weeks time.”

Mr Hilton is Mr Harborow’s line manager as he also holds the frontline job as executive director for culture, media and sport. Mr Harborow has been suffering from a health problem for some months, prompting a number of absences from work. He has said since the outset that he aims to be back at the helm as soon as possible.

“We have produced a very exciting programme that has been well received, so why would I not want to be there to see it through,” he has said.

But it was clear last week there are issues remaining about the relationship between Mr Harborow and council leader, Cllr Warren Bradley.

The report into the reasons for the collapse of this year’s Mathew Street Festival cleared Mr Harborow of any blame, but laid the blame on the main organisers, Lee Forde and Chris Green, both of whom have left the council’s employment.

There has been widespread, though unconfirmed specula-tion, that behind the scenes talks are under way that will enable Mr Harborow to leave his job in Liverpool.

Unofficial sources are already banding around a sum of money that will be offered to Mr Harborow to leave his job.

The Daily Post on Saturday revealed how Cllr Bradley severely criticised Mr Harborow’s leadership.

Labour deputy leader Cllr Paul Brant said last night: “The split at the highest level at the council is continuing to harm the city’s reputation. Our culture budget is millions of pounds short so it is essential we rebuild confidence in our ability to deliver a good 08 culture year. Failure in the top team is making Liverpool a laughing stock.”

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