A Liverpool councillor involved in a parking fines probe is set to stand down.
Cllr Ann O’Byrne has announced the decision to leave her current position after more than 15 years as an elected member of the local authority.
The city’s former deputy mayor had been named as a leading members of the council’s cabinet to have parking fines rescinded without any formal process.
It was revealed Cllr O’Byrne’s parking fines accounted for 17 of the 51 penalty notices issued to elected members between April 2015 and December 2020.
The Labour Party met with its local councillors on Wednesday as part of the probe, after which Cllr O’Byrne announced her resignation on social media.
She said: “Throughout my time as a councillor, my focus has been on eradicating poverty, supporting families and improving the environment in my ward and across the city.
“During this time, I have seen how 13 years of austerity, cuts and attacks on the welfare state has impacted families and my community.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, I set up Walton Vale Community Shop; in the last three years, the organisation has supported hundreds of residents who are bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis.
“After a lot of soul-searching, I’ve decided to put my energy and focus into this community work rather than serving as an elected member of Liverpool City Council.”
“The great Tony Benn said on retiring from Parliament after 47 years as an MP that he was off to ‘spend more time with politics.’ I feel a bit the same.”
Cllr O’Byrne previously served as deputy to former Mayor Joe Anderson and had been part of a three-woman shortlist looking to replace him in 2021.
But Labour scrapped the initial ballot, which included Lord Mayor Anna Rothery, after suspending applications to reinterview all three candidates.
Barry Kushner, a second cabinet member implicated in the parking fines scandal, has been told he will not be allowed to stand in May’s local elections.