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There were gasps of shock at tonight’s Liverpool Labour group annual meeting as two newly elected councillors ousted two of the longest serving members from key authority positions.

Veteran Everton councillor John McIntosh has lost the crucial position of chair of the council’s Planning Committee which he has held for the past 17 years, being beaten by Tricia O’Brien in a vote by councillors. Cllr O’Brien was elected to represent Cressington ward just last year.

As well as the important position, Cllr McIntosh will lose a special responsibility allowance of £8,405 per year.

In the second shock of the night, former council leader Frank Prendergast was removed from the role of chair of the Audit and Governance committee and replaced by Cllr Leon Tootle, who was voted in to represent Speke-Garston ward last year.

In his pitch to party members, seen by the ECHO before tonight’s closed-door meeting at the town hall, Cllr Tootle promised to be “transparent” and “scrutinise” the decisions of elected members.

He said: “Clearly, in the context of current financial pressures and the perilous state of local government finances, the work of this committee is vital.

“I want to ensure we collectively continue to do our very best to ensure our residents are getting value for money and the very best from Liverpool City Council .”

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He added: “Additionally, we always need to ensure that the decisions which impact the communities we represent have the right levels of transparency and scrutiny from elected members.”

He will also take on an additional allowance of £8,405 previously given to Cllr Prendergast.