Robert Jenrick has threatened to send in appointed commissioners to run parts of Liverpool City Council after its “multiple apparent failures”.

The local government secretary said a report into the Labour-run council paints a “deeply concerning picture” with a “pervasive and rotten culture”.

He told the Commons about instances of documents left in skips or destroyed, the awarding of “dubious” contracts and an “environment of intimidation” in which staff were forced to not question decisions.

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Mr Jenrick said “given the gravity of the inspection findings” he is proposing to transfer “all executive functions associated with regeneration, highways and property management at the authority to the commissioners” appointed by him if the council does not come to him by 24 May with sufficient plans to improve processes.

They would be in place for a maximum of three years if sent in and will report back to Mr Jenrick every six months, he said.

The report also found there was a failure to carry out due process in planning and regeneration including a “worrying lack of record-keeping”.

“Indeed, documentation had sometimes been created retrospectively, discarded in skips or even destroyed,” Mr Jenrick told the Commons.

He also said it found there was a “lack of scrutiny and oversight across highways”, including “no coherent business plan and the awarding of dubious contracts”.

There was a “continued failure to correctly value land and assets – meaning taxpayers frequently lost out,” Mr Jenrick added.

Shadow communities secretary Steve Reed assured the people of Liverpool, which has not had a Tory councillor elected since 1998, that this would not be a “Tory takeover” and he supports the plan “to advise and support elected representatives in strengthening the council’s systems”.

The report was compiled by local government inspector Max Caller who has been investigating irregularities in the awarding of building contracts in the city after he was appointed by Mr Jenrick in December.

His team were sent in to Liverpool City Council following the arrests of five men, including elected mayor Joe Anderson, who was held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.

The council’s director of regeneration, Nick Kavanagh, was also arrested as part of the police probe into building and development contracts in the city, and this week it was confirmed he had been dismissed from his role.

In a statement to the Liverpool Echo, he said he intended to clear his name at a tribunal.

Mr Anderson, who stepped aside from his mayoral role last year, has also denied any wrongdoing.

Merseyside Police said all suspects remain under investigation but bail has not been extended.

Local elections, including a vote to elect a successor to Mr Anderson, are due to take place on 6 May.

Reacting to Mr Jenrick’s announcement, Liverpool City Council said it takes the report findings “extremely seriously”.

“Crucially, Max Caller has made it clear that he believes the organisation has already taken steps to address the issues, since the arrival of chief executive Tony Reeves in 2018,” it said in a statement.

“The council has pledged to address all of the concerns raised and continue its journey of improvement.

“The council’s improvement plan will be published after the local elections.”

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