Wirral Council facing £20,000 bill for barrister hired for two-day libraries inquiry
WIRRAL council is facing a £20,000 bill for hiring a barrister to represent it at a two- day public inquiry into its decision to close 11 libraries.
Richard Clayton, QC, represented the authority at the hearing into proposals to streamline Wirral’s library service, which took place at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The council’s head of legal services, Bill Norman, has confirmed he expects Mr Clayton’s services to cost in the range of £15,000 to £20,000.
In an email seen by the Daily Post, he said the fees would be paid for from the council’s legal fees budget.
Wirral’s Conservative group said the decision to hire a barrister was insulting to taxpayers already facing the loss of community libraries.
But the Liberal Democrat deputy council leader, Simon Holbrook, said giving the council only three months’ notice meant it had to call in extra help.
