Carl Cashman said he couldn’t vote to endorse two new directors to be appointed to Liverpool Council
Cllr Carl Cashman, leader of Liverpool Liberal Democrats
The leader of Liverpool’s largest opposition group has been accused of not being able to count after claiming there are only two bin collectors for public waste bins across the whole city. A row has broken out after Cllr Carl Cashman was the only member of Liverpool Council’s appointments and disciplinary committee to object to the appointment of two new corporate directors earlier this week.
Members of the committee – which include city leader Cllr Liam Robinson and his cabinet alongside opposition councillors – were asked to endorse a new director of capital projects as well as a project director for the redevelopment of north Liverpool – which could see 10,000 houses built. Cllr Cashman said he did not vote for the appointments because “we’ve only got two people in the whole city that collect our public bins.”
This prompted a backlash from members of the ruling Labour group and other opposition groups who accused Cllr Cashman of jeopardising important services. One senior councillor accused the Liberal Democrat leader of not being able to count.
The committee was asked to back a plan to appoint the permanent role of director of capital projects, a role described as providing “strategic leadership and capacity to oversee the delivery of the capital programme, ensuring major construction and capital projects are delivered on time and within budget.” It was said the post holder will also “identify and pursue external funding to reduce financial pressure on the council.”
A two-year fixed position was also recommended to lead the Liverpool Locally-Led Urban Development Corporation (LLUDC) – a recommendation from the Liverpool Strategic Futures Panel to coordinate and accelerate the growth of north Liverpool.
This prompted a strong response from Cllr Cashman who released a video statement after the meeting.”
He said: “I’ve been the only councillor there that has voted against hiring two new corporate directors on massive salaries. The reason that I did that is because we’ve only got two people in the whole city that collect our public bins and I have the same issue every Monday after asking the council to get someone out to clear the bins.
“Labour think its more of a priority to hire two new corporate directors on huge salaries than our city clean. It’s all about bureaucracy and not about the ordinary worker who can actually have an impact at the council and in the city.”
Cllr Carl Cashman (Image: Liverpool Echo)
The ECHO understands Liverpool Council actually employs 13 staff through Liverpool Streetscene Services Limited (LSSL) to collect waste from public bins, supported by a team of barrow walkers who empty bins when walking their route. Cllr Cashman’s video was met with hostility from two cabinet members on social media, who immediately hit back at the Liberal Democrat group boss.
Cllr Nick Small said: “Next time, leave #DOGE to someone who can count, Carl. Think you’re mixing up two people with two dedicated teams of people.
“Would be interested too in hearing Carl’s thoughts on how the council should deliver an expanding capital programme and ambitious vision for a Locally-Led Urban Development Corporation and Liverpool North New Town without this extra capacity.” The Labour group weren’t the only members to express their dismay at Cllr Cashman.
Liberal Group leader Cllr Steve Radford, who was also on the committee, described Cllr Cashman as deploying “gimmick politics” that “could have put at risk the delivery of 10,000 homes in the north of the city – costing jobs and investment let alone the urgent need to tackle rising homelessness. His party colleague Cllr Joe Dunne added: “Context is important here.
“Voting against this is dangerous and would put in jeopardy various important services. Also posts are fixed two year contracts and will be reviewed.”