A SENIOR Liverpool council official, suspended while investigating the council’s controversial contract with BT, is taking the local authority to an employment tribunal.

Peter Cosgrove, a former assistant executive director, was suspended in June and took redundancy in October.

Mr Cosgrove will argue that he had no option but to leave after his high-profile suspension while he was overseeing the Liverpool Direct investigation.

It is understood his claim covers a number of issues.

Last night, he said: “It is a matter of fact I have lodged an employment tribunal claim. We will have to await the outcome.” The council said it did not comment on personnel issues.

A friend of Mr Cosgrove’s said the suspension had left a cloud over his employment record and that the case was about him clearing his name.

“Peter feels like he has no alternative in bringing the claim to clear his name.”

No date has yet been set for the case, but it could see details of the inner workings of the controversial Liverpool Direct Limited (LDL) deal divulged.

Mr Cosgrove was assistant executive director for corporate services between 2006 and 2010.

In June, he was told to go home after an allegation of gross misconduct was made against him relating to “discrepancies” in council tax revenue collection.

His suspension, the first of the new Labour administration and the first under the leadership of LDL boss David McElhinney, who is acting council chief executive, sent shock waves through the council.