Government set to send commissioners into Bedford, will extend Slough intervention

The proposal to send commissioners into Bedford – set out in a written ministerial statement by Local Government Minister Jim McMahon – follows the launch of a Best Value inspection in February this year.

The resulting report identified some strengths within the council, including partnership working and its support for the Universal project.

However, inspectors said they had "no confidence that the necessary improvement will be secured without external intervention”.

They also reported that Bedford's governance arrangements lack the “clarity, grip or discipline needed to support timely and effective decision-making”.

Inspectors said the arrangements are not adequate for a council with a directly elected mayoral model operating without overall political control.

The report also highlighted challenges "in all parts of the organisation - politically and managerially", warning that weak leadership and cross-party working had meant the council was unable to “confront its growing financial problems”.

A "negative culture" was identified, characterised by low trust, blame, defensiveness, silo working and weak accountability, inspectors said.

This included poor member-officer relationships, reports of bullying and misogynistic behaviour that had not been systematically addressed, low staff morale, and blurred boundaries between member and officer roles.

In response, McMahon told MPs that he is minded to direct Bedford to nominate commissioners with expertise in political and corporate leadership, transformation, governance and finance, some of whom would have powers to exercise specified functions of the council.

He said: "My proposal to appoint Commissioners is not taken lightly, and recognises that, as the Inspectors say, the council has a 'limited track record of delivering transformation and change, despite the extensive external support already available'."

Responding to the news, Bedford's Mayor, Tom Wootton, said he took the findings "extremely seriously".

The council's Chief Executive, Laura Church, added: "The council has engaged fully and constructively throughout the inspection process.

"We will continue that approach as we respond to the proposed Directions, work with commissioners when appointed and maintain a clear focus on delivering better outcomes for Bedford Borough’s residents."

McMahon meanwhile said he is minded to extend the intervention at Slough for a further three years following a commissioners' report which highlighted fragmented progress and vulnerable finances.

Slough has been in intervention since December 2021, with the intervention previously extended in 2024.

McMahon said he wishes to refresh the commissioner team to comprise a Lead Commissioner, Managing Director Commissioner, Finance Commissioner, and a SEND and Children’s Services Commissioner (appointed jointly by DfE and MHCLG).

He also said he plans to appoint a political adviser to support the council ahead of, and following, the all-out elections in May 2027.

His statement comes in response to the commissioners' eighth report, which warned that the council continues to struggle with its finances.

According to the report, Slough has a forecast £20m overspend, continues to rely on Exceptional Financial Support and needs to closely review its debt repayment strategy to ensure it is effectively managing down its high level of debt.

Commenting on the findings, McMahon added: "Governance remains underdeveloped, and serious weaknesses persist in key services, including Children’s Services, SEND and housing.

"Commissioners do not have confidence the council can sustain improvement without ongoing external support."

He added: "A key lesson we must learn from the last decade of intervention is that progress in one area is too often undermined by weakness in another and our intervention approach across the two departments has been too fragmented to date. Children's services will not be able to secure and sustain improvement while wider weaknesses in leadership, governance, and financial management persist across the organisation."

Cllr Wal Chahal, leader of Slough Council, said: “The extension of the intervention in Slough was expected, as though a great deal of progress has been made and we welcome the acknowledgement of that progress, we know there is still much work to be done to ensure improvements are embedded and sustainable.

“I welcome the continued support from government and the commitment we share to improving the council for our residents.”

Adam Carey