Local Government Secretary has today announced measures to
intervene in Thurrock
Council to address serious concerns about the financial
management of the council and the risk this poses to local
services.
Essex County Council has been appointed in the role of the
Commissioner and Best Value Inspector, giving them full control
of the financial functions of Thurrock Council and powers to
assess whether there are failures in other functions to mitigate
any further risk to services.
Thurrock Council will work with Essex County Council to prepare
an Improvement Plan within the first 3 months of the intervention
and is expected to provide a Best Value Inspection Report to the
Secretary of State in the same timeframe.
The move comes in response to grave concerns about the
exceptional level of financial risk and debt incurred by the
council.
Local Government Secretary said:
Given the serious financial situation at Thurrock Council and its
potential impact on local services, I believe it is necessary for
government to intervene.
I strongly believe that when a council gets into difficulties its
local government neighbours should be the preferred source of
help in turning it around.
I know that Essex County Council possesses the expertise and
ability to help its local government neighbour. Working together,
I believe the councils can deliver the improvements local people
expect and deserve.
In its role as Commissioner, Essex County Council will take
control of all the functions associated with the financial
governance and scrutiny of strategic financial decision making by
the authority.
The Best Value Inspection will look into the governance, audit
(internal and external), risk management, overview and scrutiny
functions of the council, and consider their impact on service
delivery.
