Bedford Borough Council’s mayor has warned the authority has “real troubles” as a new committee was formally established to monitor its improvement plan and savings programme.
Speaking at the first meeting of the council’s Finance and Improvement Committee last night (Wednesday), mayor Tom Wootton said the authority faced a “serious financial position”.
Read: New committee will oversee council’s Improvement Plan and savings programme
“It is a solemn thing we’re doing tonight,” he said, opening the meeting, “I wanted to ensure that the Improvement Plan and our unfolding financial position was debated in an open forum.”
“We are a council that has real troubles, and we have these Best Value inspectors turning stones over themselves,” he told councillors.
Read: What is a “best value” inspection – and why does it matter to Bedford?
The council’s Improvement Plan aims to address issues in governance, financial management and service performance.
Read: Council executive approves improvement plan to tackle Borough’s financial pressures
According to the report presented to councillors, the new committee will provide a “dedicated forum for regular, transparent monitoring of improvement activity” and will review progress against savings targets.
Senior officers will be required to attend meetings to present finance and performance information and answer questions from councillors.
The report said existing governance arrangements did not provide the “frequency or focus required for the scale of improvement activity underway”.
Cllr Doug McMurdo (Independent, Sharnbrook) said: “I just want to be absolutely clear that you are open to a very transparent, collaborative, leaving no stone unturned.”
“If we’re turning one stone over and there are another three, you’ll be open-minded to that, is that correct?” he asked the mayor.
Mayor Wootton replied, “That is very correct because we are a council that has real troubles, and we have these best value inspectors in turning stones over themselves.
“But this is a serious business and I’m really glad and welcome you to be looking at the finances.”
Read: What happens if a council “goes bust”? Section 114 explained as Bedford faces financial pressure
Cllr Henry Vann (Lib Dem, De Parys), a non-voting member of the committee, sought to amend the committee’s terms of reference to explicitly refer to the council’s need for Exceptional Financial Support from central government and the seriousness of its financial situation.
However, the committee instead agreed wording referring to the council’s “serious financial situation”.
Under the arrangements approved by councillors, the committee will include five members of the executive, political group leaders and an independent member representative, although only executive members will have voting rights.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
