District apologises after mistakenly publishing draft report urging ministerial intervention at county

Daventry District Council has issued an apology after a draft version of a report was published online in error suggesting that the authority should consider asking the Communities Secretary to intervene at Northamptonshire County Council because of its finances.

The report, which has been prepared as Daventry considers its response to Northamptonshire’s draft budget, suggests that the county’s financial position is “grave” and there is a “substantial risk of [it] being unable to meet its financial obligations as they fall due i.e. technical insolvency”. It also claims that the county has failed to deliver expected savings and reserves are at a very low level.

The report as originally drafted is understood, however, to have also suggested that Daventry ask Sajid Javid to consider intervention, although it admitted that that was an unusual step for one branch of local government to take against another. This part of the report has been cut out.

In a statement Daventry said: “Please be aware that an incorrect version of a report for Daventry District Council’s Strategy Group on 12 January 2017 had been published on the Council’s website.

“Whilst the correct report was printed, a draft version of the report titled ‘NCC Budget, MTFP and Council Plan Consultation’ (Item SG.120117/5) was published online and incorrectly featured content relating to the consideration of Secretary of State intervention.

“The correct version of the report is attached and is now published on the website.

“The Council apologises for any inconvenience or confusion this error may have caused.”

Cllr Robin Brown, county council cabinet member for finance at Northamptonshire, said: “Daventry District Council’s suggestion that the county council is at risk of insolvency is simply untrue and no doubt driven by our intention to explore a unitary authority for Northamptonshire, which would replace all current councils and which we can only assume Daventry sees as a threat.

“We have always and will continue to deliver a balanced budget and the suggestion that we do not have credible plans to deliver the required savings is misinformed and disingenuous at best.

“Northamptonshire County Council’s finances are sustainable and will soon be able to grow into a position of strength over the medium term.”