Local Government Minister Paul Scully has expanded the intervention being implemented in Slough Borough Council, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities has confirmed.
Governance issues had led to the council being unable to provide residents with the best value, leading to commissioners being appointed to deliver a report on the status of the council. The report, published in June, outlined that the council was facing an ‘unprecedented’ scale of challenge, thanks to years of debt, poor accounting, and financial mismanagement.
The Local Government Minister is now granting the commissioners more power to provide more support for the council, alongside overseeing the recruitment of more senior staff for the council.
Paul Scully, Local Government Minister, said:
“The people of Slough deserve a council that can deliver for their needs and drive long-lasting improvements and a brighter future.
“Given the scale of the challenges set out in the Commissioners report, I am granting further powers to Commissioners to help implement much-needed changes.
I am confident that these expanded powers will support the Council so they can drive forward long-term change and protect hardworking taxpayers.”
The commissioners were first sent into Slough Borough Council at the start of December 2021. Max Caller CBE, Lead Commissioner, said:
“I am grateful to the Levelling Up Minister for confirming the expansion of the Directions and his support for Commissioners’ work at Slough Borough Council.
“There is much to do and no easy answers, Getting the right officer team in place quickly us an important step in the Council’s recovery and in delivering best value for Slough’s taxpayers.”
