Following a heated budget meeting where Mayor Ned Mannoun sought to terminate his contract, Liverpool Council chief executive John Ajaka was placed on paid leave. An independent inquiry will now be initiated to investigate the circumstances surrounding this action. An independent inquiry is set to commence following the decision to place Liverpool Council's chief executive, John Ajaka, on paid leave, despite Mayor Ned Mannoun's attempt to terminate his contract following a contentious budget meeting.

After over two hours of closed-door discussions, Mr. Ajaka was granted leave with pay "until the concerns raised in Ned Mannoun’s mayoral minute have undergone an independent investigation."

Upon the council's resumption around 5:30 pm, Jason Breton, the director of operations at Liverpool Council, assumed Mr. Ajaka's responsibilities and was appointed as the acting chief executive in the interim. Furthermore,  the council has resolved to launch an investigation into Workplace Health and Safety concerns affecting the organisation's culture and to notify the Office of Local Government.

These actions follow concerns raised by representatives of the United Services Union (USU) regarding workplace culture, which were discussed with the council on April 23rd.

Another inquiry will delve into offensive, racist, and religious chants made by attendees, including council staff, during a rally organized by the United Services Union (USU) before the meeting.

USU members gathered to protest against the potential dismissal of another CEO by Ned Mannoun, displaying signs with slogans like "Keep John (Ajaka) Erase Ned (Mannoun)."

Upon returning to the chambers, former Liverpool councillor Peter Ristevski exclaimed from the gallery: "You're a joke, you're a coward, come over here."

Police were called to the council chambers at 3:15pm to remove union members and attendees – including Peter Ristevski – after councillors closed the meeting to discuss Mr Ajaka’s potential sacking.

Mr Mannoun faced a barrage of opposition from members of the public and was called a “coward” and a “disgrace” by Mr Ristevski.

Mr Ristevski, alongside more than 20 union members, refused to leave the chambers before police were called to the scene. Police instructed the crowd to vacate the room, urging them to step outside of the chambers. Mr. Ajaka addressed the crowd, expressing his admiration for their actions, stating, "I can't respect you more for what you're doing... but if anything happened to any of you it'd be on my head” according to sources in the council chambers.

Wednesday’s developments come after the United Services Union held an urgent meeting at Discovery Park in Liverpool on Tuesday due to the potential threat to a large number of council jobs.

Source: Daily Telegraph | Image credits – Daily Telegraph