Cast your mind back to September last year. Eurovision was but a pipe dream and Liverpool, not for the first time, was in a state of tumult.
Two months previously, Tony Reeves, the then chief executive of the city council, had handed in his resignation ahead of what would prove to be a less than favourable assessment by government-appointed commissioners in August. To see Liverpool through the choppy waters ahead, stepped in Theresa Grant, a veteran of local government having served as the top boss in both Northamptonshire and Trafford.
Now, eight months on, the Irishwoman is ending her term as interim chief executive as Andrew Lewis prepares to leave Cheshire West and Chester Council to run Liverpool. Reflecting on her time in the city, which she admits she regrets not coming to earlier, Ms Grant said steering Liverpool back on track had been tougher than expected, but she felt it had had the perfect opportunity to be the most thriving city in the world.
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Ms Grant took up her position in the aftermath of a scathing commissioners’ report which said Liverpool Council had not displayed “sufficient pace, urgency or grip” to tackle the issues it faces. In the space of six months, a more positive outlook was reported by Mike Cunningham’s team, something that pleased the interim chief.
She said: “I think the commissioners’ report was positive compared to the previous ones and I was really pleased to see that, but they recognise, and I recognise that we still have a journey to go on. I would like to think that what I've done is stabilised the organisation and prepared it and put in a sound foundation for the transformation that's needed.
“The city and the organisation is at a real milestone, it's at a real transition point and I can't emphasise how important this transition point is enough.” Last week the city held landmark local elections in which every single seat was up for grabs on the council.
85 candidates have been sent to Liverpool Town Hall in 64 newly drawn wards following the Caller Report in 2021. Ms Grant said she felt the ballots represented a “fantastic opportunity” for political stability for the next four years and would allow the authority to get on to deliver “the things the city really needs.”
She said: “It's got a new management team and new chief executive coming in at the very same time. So if ever there was a time when there's an opportunity for the city to start to achieve greatness, this is the start of it.
“It should be the start of it and I would love to think that during this administration in three years time, they can look back and say, look at what we've achieved and built on that foundation. It was hard work. I wouldn't deny it.
“It was really hard work for the last seven months and I hope maybe when it is a success in three years, somebody might remember that little, little sort of window where I was in there. I'd like to think I gave that stability and that really good start to get them off the starting blocks.”
The outgoing top official was under no illusions about the challenges facing Liverpool when she took the job but admitted the task had been more difficult when she stepped into the breach at other local authorities. She said: “I'm being diplomatic now but I think it was tougher, I'll be honest.
“I thought having done Northamptonshire it wouldn't be as difficult, but actually I have found it tougher. What I can say on the positive side is there's a fantastic workforce here, second to none, and I've worked in a lot of councils. They are exceptional in their passion, commitment and really all they needed was some leadership, but it was tough for them.
“People don't like changes, and you'll have seen some of that with changes of terms and conditions. Staff are not happy about that, but I wouldn't expect them to be happy, but we have to put the organisation on the right footing. So definitely, definitely tougher.
“There are so many idiosyncrasies I'll call them, that are just Liverpool. It is a special place and I say that with a smile because I keep finding firsts here.”
The five-strong team of commissioners are almost two years into their stay in Liverpool and expected to leave in June next year. Ms Grant said with so much change at the top of the organisation, they remain crucial to Liverpool plotting a more positive course. She said: “They need to be there to support the new members coming in and also the new management team coming in. They have a key role to play.”
As chief executive, Ms Grant has worked in step with the government-mandated officials. Her political counterparts however, while forced to work alongside them, were not shy in sounding off about how they felt, with a particularly frosty relationship reported between them and former Mayor Joanne Anderson.
Ms Grant said despite that, she had a positive working relationship with the politicians during her time. She said: “I've had a really good experience here, especially with the mayor. I wish I had longer working with her, to be honest.
“It’s been a really positive experience with the whole of the cabinet. When we went through the budget process in November, that was a real test of their mettle and they came up with the goods and these were difficult asks of politicians in any council.
“They absolutely stood firm and stood behind a budget that was difficult budget. “I wouldn't have wished to have put that budget to them because politically some of the decisions would've been unpalatable.”
On Wednesday, Labour group leader Cllr Liam Robinson, will be confirmed as the next leader of Liverpool Council - the first in 13 years as the city scrapped the mayoral model. Currently, there is no political leadership until Cllr Robinson’s position is confirmed but Ms Grant said it was imperative work continued.
She said: “We want to see the smoothest transition possible so that there's no downtime. No loss of momentum and pace, because we've built that up and it was hard. We don't want to lose that and go backwards.” Looking ahead to the future, the outgoing chief said her only regret was she didn’t come to Liverpool sooner and would have made the city her home. Describing it as “the most amazing city with the best of everything,” Ms Grant said Liverpool needed to shout louder about itself.
She said: “The potential that it has is far greater than even people can imagine, we need to work collectively to achieve that. It has a bit of a self-destruct button at times, I think.
“We need to just focus on how great the great things are and how I think it's got the potential to be the most thriving city in the world. Why not again?”
It’s expected Liverpool Council will be Ms Grant’s final job in local government, as she said it’s her third attempt at retiring. That is in contrast to her successor, Mr Lewis, who starts at the Cunard Building in a week’s time.
The Irishwoman had some words of advice for the incoming boss. She said: “I would make sure that he comes in with his eyes wide open, that there's still big challenges.
“We've done the basics, the hard work, but there's big challenges ahead and I would encourage him to keep driving the momentum. I think he's absolutely clear that's what he wants to do as well.
“He is so enthusiastic and committed and passionate, you know, he lives in the area for him, I think it's his dream job. I know he's gonna give it 110% and I think he is absolutely the right person for the job.”
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