* READ City Editor David Bartlett's take on the Liverpool Direct barbecue here

A CONTROVERSIAL Liverpool council joint venture is to throw a barbecue for 400 guests at a top city hotel to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

The revelation comes as the council and BT are near to concluding negotiations to reduce the cost of the £70m Liverpool Direct Limited (LDL)call centre and IT deal.

Liverpool council is expecting to make 1,200 workers redundant as it struggles to cut £141m from its budget this year and in 2012.

And holding the barbecue at the Marriott Hotel has angered some staff who see it as insensitive at a time of austerity when fellow workers are losing their jobs.

LDL has offered Liverpool council a price cut and has told staff it has not yet established what impact this will have on the workforce.

The council has until the end of June to reach agreement

Opposition leader Liberal Democrat Cllr Paula Keaveney said: “With anything like this, it is important that questions are asked to make sure money is spent wisely.”

The LDL contract is due to end in 2017 but has a break clause that can be exercised in 2012.