Minister calls for report from Commissioners at Slough on whether intervention should be extended

The Government has asked the Commissioners appointed to Slough Council to prepare a report on whether the intervention at the local authority should be extended beyond the original timeframe.

Local Government Minister Simon Hoare suggested that the pace of improvement at Slough had been “insufficient and inconsistent given the stage of the intervention”.

Commissioners were appointed at the council in December 2021, following an external assurance review, “to address serious financial and management failures”.

The review by former Salford City Council chief executive Jim Taylor had painted “a deeply concerning picture of mismanagement, of a breakdown in scrutiny and accountability, and of a dysfunctional culture” and found that the council had failed its best value duty.

The Commissioners’ fourth report, which said that there had been "much activity and progress in some areas" since their last report but warned that Slough remained "organisationally fragile" and with a concerning amount of churn at leadership levels, was delivered to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities last month.

The intervention is due to end on 30 November 2024.

However, in a written ministerial statement today (22 February), Local Government Minister Simon Hoare said: “I am sorry to report that whilst the fourth report submitted to the Secretary of State on 17 January 2024 does record continued progress in some areas, including the political leadership, Children’s Social Care and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), procurement and contract management, the pace of improvement has been insufficient and inconsistent given the stage of the intervention, and there is still a lot to do before the council will meet its Best Value Duty.

“It is of concern that the council has not accelerated the pace of improvement, especially on tackling organisational transformation, developing a future operating model and that continued financial instability remains a concern. Commissioners are now of the opinion the Government needs to consider the nature of the intervention beyond the current timelines.”

Hoare said he had written to the Commissioners to request a further assessment of progress in April 2024 to allow the Secretary of State and him to decide whether further intervention is required beyond November 2024.

The minister said that report would need to cover:

• An assessment of continued Best Value failure including progress against each of the directions and against the best value themes published for consultation by DLUHC last summer;
• A view on timeframes needed for the authority to deliver its Best Value Duty;
• Whether the current directions are sufficient and necessary for the authority to meet their Best Value Duty.

“In the immediate term, it is essential the council demonstrates fresh resolve in implementing the changes required to deliver a sustainable council that the residents of Slough deserve,” Hoare said.

Slough Council said it accepted the findings of the Commissioners’ fourth report.

Leader of the council, Dexter Smith, said: “We thank the commissioners for their continued support, and I was personally pleased to read their positive comments about the new administration.

“We are committed to continuing to drive the changes needed, and to ensure that it focuses on the priorities of residents.” 

Stephen Brown, Slough's chief executive, said: “We have come a long way since the initial intervention, and I am pleased to see the commissioners’ letter points to some progress, notably in children’s social care and SEND services, procurement, contract management & financial planning. 

“However, I also recognise the very real challenges highlighted, and the absolute need to continue our focus on achieving financial stability, address issues with the culture of the organisation, and increase the overall pace of progress.”

He added: “Improvement in such difficult circumstances will never be linear, and we recognise there will be ongoing challenges and also opportunities for improvement. 

“We remain committed to building on the work we have done in the months since the letter was drafted, and to prioritising recovery and we are making further critical investment in order to drive the changes the council and the town need to see. I am confident that these will have had a positive impact by the time of the commissioners’ next report in April.”