LIVERPOOL council last night declared war on “wasteful” conferences and away days for staff which cost the city £1m last year.

The authority also spent £243,000 on furniture and £203,000 on carpets and redecorating, figures released by the Labour council reveal.

City leaders claimed the previous administration had “squandered” public money while expecting city taxpayers to tighten their belts.

But the Lib-Dems hit back, saying withdrawing from conferences could see the city “disappear from the national and international stage”.

Deputy council leader Cllr Paul Brant said he had identified up to £5m of wasteful spending. By cutting spending on trips to luxury hotels for officers and councillors would put around £10 back in the pockets of every city family.

The authority hired the Isla Gladstone conservatory in Stanley Park to launch a 20-page “neighbourhood agreement” which was then posted out to every resident. The cost of hiring the venue is around £1,000 for a full day.

The council is also planning to slash £1m from marketing and publicity spending to help achieve savings. The city is facing a £120m “black hole” in its finances and earlier this month learned the government had slashed £10m from grants intended to help the most needy.

Cllr Brant said: “I was shocked when I found out just how much money was being spent on conferences, away-days and travel – £925,500 a year.

“In future, officers will only be able to attend conferences where there is a real and positive benefit to the council in doing so. I expect to see this expenditure being at least halved this year.

“I also expect staff development meetings to be held in the city and on council premises. Using expensive hotels and similar venues is no longer acceptable.”

In a bid to save cash, the council will close the Merseyside office in Brussels, arguing it is not necessary now that Objective 1 European funding had ceased.

Council leader Cllr Joe Anderson added there would be a complete freeze on spending on office furniture and decoration.