Broke Northamptonshire County Council should be scrapped and split in two, says damning government report
A damning government report into the broke council of Northamptonshire has concluded that the council should be split up into two unitary councils.
BROKE Northamptonshire County Council should be scrapped and replaced by two new unitary bodies, a damning government report has ruled.
In a humiliating finding for the Tory-run town hall, which just 18-months ago was blowing cash teaching people how to wear a scarf, the report recommended that the Government intervene.
Last month Northampton County Council (NCC) banned all-but emergency spending after it ran out of cash.
The government-ordered independent inquiry into the authority’s demise yesterday concluded that the troubled council “failed to comply with its duty” to deliver services and Inspectors found that “living within budget constraints was not part of the culture of NCC”.
Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid, who ordered the inquiry, will now decide the fate of the council.
Max Caller, who led the Government investigation, said: “The problems faced by NCC are now so deep and ingrained that it is not possible to promote a recovery plan that could bring the council back to stability and safety in a reasonable timescale.”
Council leader Heather Smith has resigned following the report’s publication.
Mr Caller has also advised the Government to appoint commissioners in the short-term to ensure “the proper running of the council and delivery of services for its taxpayers” while proposals for restructuring are developed.
He said: “To change the culture and organisational ethos and to restore balance would, in the judgement of the inspection team, take of the order of five years and require a substantial one-off cash injection. Effectively, it would be a reward for failure.
“Even under a Directions regime, it is not considered likely that councillors and officers would have the strength of purpose to carry through such a long-running programme of recovery potentially crossing two electoral cycles.
“In the meantime, it would be the people of the county who would suffer. A way forward with a clean sheet, leaving all the history behind, is required.”
NCC’s deputy leader Matthew Golby said in a statement that the council accepted the findings and would act accordingly.
He said: “It is clear that the inspector has found what he believes to be significant failings at the council.