Liverpool City Council’s chief executive has been suspended from public office.
A decision was taken by the local authority against Ged Fitzgerald as it prepares to open its own investigation into its leading employee.
Mr Fitzgerald is currently on bail after he was arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
The charges related to the 55-year-old’s time in charge of Lancashire Council, whose ‘One Connect’ partnership with BT is currently under a fraud probe.
LCC refused to suspend Mr Fitzgerald following his original arrest but have now taken the decision at a meeting of the Appointments and Disciplinary Panel.
A council spokesman said: “We can confirm that the City Council’s Appointments and Disciplinary Panel met today to discuss the circumstances surrounding the Chief Executive, Ged Fitzgerald.
“After deliberating carefully, the Panel took the decision to suspend him.
“We must stress this is a neutral act to allow an independent investigation into issues, including potential reputational impacts on the City Council at the current time, to proceed.
“It is important for the City Council, the Panel and the Chief Executive that the investigator is able to make an objective assessment and therefore we are not able to make any further comment at this stage.”