Liverpool City Council’s chief executive has announced his shock resignation.
Tony Reeves confirmed his decision to stand down from his position as the most senior officer within the local authority after just four years in post.
Mayor Joanne Anderson disclosed in an email to council staff that Reeves, who arrived from Cunard in July 2018, had resigned with immediate effect.
He was singled out for praise by local government secretary Robert Jenrick when dissecting Max Caller’s damning report into the council’s operations.
But pressure had been mounting on him amid revelations that a series of administrative errors could add a further £16 million to the city’s electrity bill.
He had faced calls to resign from several councillors last month as a result of the issues arisen by the energy contract wrangle.
It was also confirmed that Reeves’ deputy Mel Creighton, who was also the council’s finance director, also left her post on Monday.
“I’m sad to be leaving Liverpool City Council but I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me over the past four years, in what has been exceptional times for the council and the city,” said Mr Reeves.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to have been Chief Executive of an organisation that does so much tremendous work for such a fantastic city and its amazing people.
“I’m immensely proud of the progress that has been made in Liverpool since I arrived – from reorganising the council and setting out its improvement plan – to the city’s tackling of Covid-19, when we led the country in community testing and piloting events, to establishing the world’s first pandemic institute.
“Throughout this time Liverpool showed its true spirit of togetherness and its ability to innovate and overcome immense difficulties and the city is so much stronger for that experience.”