Government Intervention Plan at the Spelthorne County Council

The commissioners could be introduced to intervene in the operation of a Surrey council that has more than 1 billion debts, the government said.

A report on the governance in the Council of the County of Spelthorne raised a series of concerns before the authority, which had a culture of being isolated and too optimistic, and a bad history of addressing previous recommendations.

Local Government Minister Jim McMahon said he is considering appointing a team of commissioners to supervise the Council in certain areas.

Spelthorne leader Joanne Sexton said the authority had “agreed to work in association to take decisive measures.”

It is estimated that Spelthorne’s debt is more than 60 times the amount you spend on services, the second highest level of debt for a district or the municipal council in England, after close cleaning.

TO Best value report For government inspectors they said that although there were steps to make improvements, there were serious concerns in several areas.

In Written statementJim McMahon said that the proposal to intervene in Spelthorne “was not taken lightly”, and was “designed to strengthen and accelerate improvement work” in the Council.

“I hope that with focus and supervision, the improvement reaches the rhythm and that it is not necessary for the commissioners to use their powers,” he added.

“However, they must be empowered to do so if they consider that the improvement and the required reforms are not being delivered.”

Mrs. Sexton said the Council had faced “challenging time”, but I was working to find a solution to face the debt “inherited.”

The authority had met with Mr. McMahon and “agreed to work in association to take decisive measures,” he added.

Spelthorne has been given until March 28 to respond to the proposal.