Liverpool Council is set to appoint a new interim chief finance officer as its section 151 officer, Ian Williams, steps down after more than three years in the role. Members of the city council will be asked to confirm Mr Williams' deputy, Sara Pitt, as interim chief finance officer, with a recruitment exercise for a permanent replacement expected to begin shortly.
Background and Appointment
Mr Williams joined the local authority from the London Borough of Hackney in June 2023 as corporate director of finance and resources. He replaced Barry Scarr, the city's fourth interim director in 12 months, upon the end of his contract.
His appointment came in the aftermath of the Caller Report, which revealed earlier this year that the council had spent thousands of pounds a month on interim directors. The council had been filling the post at the Cunard Building with interim appointments after losing deputy chief executive and finance boss Mel Creighton amid expensive electricity contract errors in 2022, an issue highlighted by government-appointed commissioners.
Recent History and Transition
Ms Creighton resigned in May 2022 after a series of mistakes regarding the council's failure to properly renegotiate its electricity contract with Scottish Power. Following her departure, Chris Buss was appointed interim chief finance officer but left after just 10 weeks, reportedly unable to commit to the role for as many days as required.
Anne-Marie Lubanski, who stepped in as interim chief executive following the resignation of Tony Reeves, also covered the finance brief until Ian Duncan's temporary appointment in September for six months. Mr Scarr, who previously served as deputy chief executive and chief finance officer at Northumberland and Northamptonshire Councils, replaced Mr Duncan at Northamptonshire in 2019.
Before joining Liverpool Council, Mr Williams spent 16 years as group director for finance and corporate services at Hackney, where he was also the borough's statutory chief finance officer and stepped in as interim chief executive in 2021 and 2023. It is understood he will take up a new role in London after leaving Liverpool.
Next Steps
If approved by city councillors when they meet on Wednesday, Ms Pitt will take up the interim position, with Andrew Buck, the council's director of finance business partnering, as interim deputy section 151 officer for the same period. Without an interim appointment, the council would not have a designated officer responsible for the proper administration of its financial affairs pending a permanent appointment.
