Top council boss steps down from job with immediate effect

The chief executive of Liverpool City Council Ged Fitzgerald has stepped down from his position with immediate effect.

The high ranking council official handed in a letter of resignation yesterday and is leaving his £200,000 a year job by mutual consent.

The chief executive was arrested 12 months ago on suspicion of witness intimidation and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

The accusations came about as a result of an investigation into fraud carried at Lancashire County Council.

He was arrested along with three others and the investigation was related Mr Fitzgerald’s time as chief executive at Lancashire County Council.

Operation Sheridan – a police investigation which was launched in 2013 – had been looking into accusations of financial irregularities in a deal between Lancashire County Council and BT.

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said in a letter to all council employees he had accepted the resignation.

Mr Fitzgerald has also stepped down as interim head of paid service for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority pending the investigation.

Mr Anderson said: “Ged Fitzgerald has resigned from his post as CEO of Liverpool City Council with immediate effect.

“I can confirm that he wrote to me this morning and tendered his resignation, which the council has accepted.”

The leader of the Conservatives at Lancashire County Council Geoff Driver was also arrested along with Mr Fitzgerald.

Mr Fitzgerald had been leader of Liverpool City Council since 2011.

All four men remain on bail until 22 May.