Minister threatens city council with commissioners after improvement board finds some good progress but also lack of urgency

The Government has threatened Nottingham City Council with the imposition of commissioners to take over some unspecified services.

Nottingham already has an Improvement and Assurance Board in place, which reported in February.

In June last year the Government said it was minded to appoint commissioners after the discovery of unlawful Housing Revenue Account expenditure and “serious historical financial and governance failings”, as well as “cultural failings and a reluctance to escalate issues appropriately”. At the time it decided instead to appoint the board.

Local government minister Lee Rowley has said in a letter to board chair Sir Tony Redmond that while he was pleased to see some progress, “I am disappointed, however, that the board’s overall assessment is that ‘there has been a distinct lack of urgency in tackling the necessary change’ and that at present you are not satisfied with the progress being made.”

Mr Rowley said he supported the board’s instructions to the council to speed up progress.

He said: “The onus is on the council delivering the necessary improvements to the board’s satisfaction, and I will continue to seek your assurance on progress made and the adequacy of the council’s performance against the instructions.

“I will continue to assess whether the exercising of further powers…including the appointment of commissioners, will be necessary on receipt of your next report in June.”

Appointments of commissioners to run all or parts of councils are rare but recent cases have occurred at Liverpool, Slough and Sandwell.

The board’s February report concluded there had been improvements in housing, “but finance, transformation and culture, although improving, have many challenges ahead in delivering fundamental change within specific financial constraints”.

Planning had become “more coordinated and coherent” but still did not meet the best value duty.

Sir Tony and board colleagues Sean Nolan and Robin Hughes said Nottingham must show “total commitment to delivering a balanced 2023-24 budget and medium term financial plan which, in turn, should demonstrate financial resilience and sustainability”.

The February report gave the council 39 instructions to increase the pace of change in governance, finance, transformation, corporate planning, companies and workforce culture and performance outcomes. 

Leader David Mellen said: “We welcome the latest report from the Improvement and Assurance Board and its acknowledgement of the progress we have been making.

“We know that further improvements are required and the report clearly sets out the areas where we need to bring about change at a faster pace. However, we are committed to working with the board to ensure that happens.”

Mark Smulian