Time for review on recruitment

Sep 5 2008 by Toby Chapman, Liverpool Daily Post

TO BORROW from Oscar Wilde, to lose to one civic official with a hefty payout may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness.

Liverpool council has now lost four executives in this way – and taxpayers are bound to be wondering just what on earth is going on in the carpeted corridors of power.

The city council’s director of finance is set to depart the local authority with a £500,000 pay-off.

The pay-off itself will see around £420,000 added to out-going executive Phil Halsall’s pension pot, and he will also be given an £80,000 lump sum.

Helpfully for the council, the deal also includes a gagging clause.

Liverpool, of course, was labelled the worst in the country earlier this year because of the poor state of its finances, although out-going director Mr Halsall has always defended his record.

However, his £180,000-a-year services are no longer required by the local authority and he joins a growing list of those who have been sent on their way with a cheery wave and a large cheque to smooth their path.

The others are former city council chief executive Sir David Henshaw, former Culture Company artistic director Robyn Archer – who departed some time before 2008 even arrived – and ex-Culture Company Chief Executive Jason Harborow.

Mr Halsall will head off on a secondment to Liverpool’s joint venture partner Enterprise plc next month, and finally bid farewell in April 2009 when he takes earlier retirement.

His position came under doubt earlier this year as a result of a restructure of the top tier of management at the council which cut Mr Halsall’s post. No doubt the financial package tailored to his leaving will cushion the blow.

Surely it is now time for Liverpool’s recruitment and selection progress to be reviewed?

The high cost of saying farewell to high-ranking officials at Liverpool cannot sit to easily with voters and tax-payers in the city.