AN INVESTIGATION into how the girlfriend of a Liberal Democrat councillor was given an unadvertised £30,000 town hall job found “the council’s appointment procedures were followed”.
A report by chief executive Colin Hilton – after an inquiry by city treasurer Robert Corbett – said there had been “no undue influence” by officers or members over the appointment of Laura Gilmore to the executive members’ office.
She is the girlfriend of Lib-Dem councillor and Wavertree Parliamentary candidate Colin Eldridge.
Mr Hilton’s report also concludes that no council officer knew of the relationship between Cllr Eldridge and Miss Gilmore, 27, before her appointment.
Last night, Cllr Eldridge said: “I am very pleased that the report shows that council procedures were followed and no wrongdoing occurred. I will look forward to an apology from the Labour party for their recent attacks on Laura.”
But the report also highlights there was “inconsistency” in the accounts of how Miss Gilmore’s name came to be put forward for the job.
Lib-Dem office member Rachel Palma told Mr Corbett it was her “recollection” that agency Reed put Miss Gilmore’s name forward.
But Reed, the council’s usual employment agency, told the inquiry they had “no record” of suggesting her on their calls log and that she was not on Reed’s Liverpool books at the time. Miss Gilmore was, however, on their global register and had sent Reed Liverpool her CV.
It was decided to go through Reed to fill the vacancy because it was “considered likely” no-one in the council looking for redeployment would be suitable.
Mr Hilton’s findings conclude there was “no evidence” officers were aware of Cllr Eldridge and Miss Gilmore – known on Twitter as “LibDemLaura” – were involved.
He finds the month the couple took to tell managers they were a couple was only a “delay in compliance” with rules requiring politicians and staff to declare relationships.
The post became vacant on July 27, when Rachel Palma secured a secondment with the Local Government Association in Brussels.
