Government commissioners have been appointed to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to address “serious mismanagement” at the authority.
Two commissioners have been appointed – Kim Bromley-Derry and Jim Taylor. Bromley-Derry is currently the interim chief executive of the council, while Taylor is the former chief executive of Salford City Council.
They will take over functions associated with the governance and scrutiny of strategic decision-making by the council, including those relating to the appointment and dismissal of statutory officers.
The move comes after a Value for Money Governance Review by Grant Thornton revealed a “deeply troubling picture of mismanagement and of ineffective scrutiny and accountability arrangements” at the council.
Local government minister Kemi Badenoch said that given the “clear evidence of failings at Sandwell Council”, she had decided to intervene.
In a ministerial statement Badenoch added that, while the secretary of state had been encouraged by the progress made under the interim chief executive, the “risk of progress stalling or slowing is significant”.
Council leader Kerrie Carmichael said: “It’s welcome that external reviews have now recognised ‘green shoots’ of recovery are clearly visible. But we know there is much for us still to do, and we have a clear path to drive improvement.”
The commissioners will produce their first report within the next three months.
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