Minister for Local Government and Homelessness (): This Government is
committed to taking the action necessary to fix the foundations
of local government. Today, I am updating the House on the steps
we are taking to support two councils to recover and reform:
Bedford Borough Council and Spelthorne Borough Council.
Bedford Borough Council
Today I have exercised powers under section 10 of the Local
Government Act 1999 to carry out a Best Value Inspection of
Bedford Borough Council's compliance with the Best Value Duty.
Given the economic importance of Bedford, I am committed to
ensuring strong oversight to safeguard investment and support
regional growth.
I have appointed Paul Najsarek as the Inspector, and on his
request, Margaret Lee and Parveen Akhtar as Assistant Inspectors.
Given our concerns relate to broad decision-making, and whether
the standards expected for effective and convenient local
government are being upheld, the inspection will consider
decision-making in relation to those functions, encompassing
leadership, governance, organisational culture, use of resources,
partnerships and community engagement, and impact on service
delivery. It will also consider the Authority's capacity to
address the recommendations made by the Local Government
Association Corporate Peer Challenge team and progress review,
the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy review
and the external auditor's (KPMG) update report to Bedford
Borough Council's Audit Committee meeting on 27 November 2025.
I look forward to receiving the Inspector's report in June and
will carefully consider this before determining the next steps
for Bedford Borough Council. If it shows that the Council is in
breach of its Best Value Duty, we will then consider whether to
exercise powers under section 15 of the 1999 Local Government
Act.
Spelthorne Borough Council
Today, I am publishing the Commissioners at Spelthorne Borough
Council's first report, received in December 2025, which sets out
early progress, including the adoption of an Improvement and
Recovery Plan, restructuring of debt and the implementation of a
new Minimum Revenue Provision policy. These steps are critical to
improving the Council's financial sustainability ahead of
Surrey's planned local government reorganisation in April 2027.
While I welcome the progress to date, significant challenges
remain. Delivering these improvements will be essential to
ensuring stability and readiness for the changes ahead, and I
look forward to the Council and Commissioners working together to
take forward the strategy they have outlined to address these
issues.
To support continued progress at the Council, the Secretary of
State has confirmed the reappointments of Lesley Seary as Lead
Commissioner and Deborah McLaughlin, and Mervyn Greer as
Commissioners, until the expiry of the Directions on 31 May 2030
as a backstop. In practice, their appointments will cease when
Spelthorne Borough Council is dissolved as part of the planned
local government reorganisation in Surrey.
I recognise that local government reorganisation in Surrey brings
added urgency and complexity to Spelthorne's improvement journey.
I have therefore asked Commissioners to include in their next
report reflections on the reorganisation process, including how
government can best support new councils in meeting their Best
Value Duty from day one, and any urgent issues that fall outside
their current remit. I look forward to receiving their progress
report later this summer.
Conclusion
I am committed to working with these councils to ensure their
compliance with the Best Value Duty and the high standards of
governance that local residents expect. My department will take
action to support improvement where needed.
I will deposit in the House library copies of the documents
referred to, which are being published on gov.uk today. I will
update the House in due course.
