A Sword of Damocles hanging over Middlesbrough Council has been lifted, with the town’s administration now enjoying new central government backing. A “Best Value Notice” on the council will not be re-issued, it has been confirmed.
The changes made to improve Middlesbrough Council have been recognised by government.
The notice was originally issued in January 2023 amid concerns among central government ministers about the way the council was operating. The notice laid out the actions needed to improve the situation. Along with the notice came the threat that the council could be taken over by administrators appointed by central government.
At the time, Independent Andy Preston was the elected Mayor and the council was run by an informal coalition of Independents and Tories.
A revised notice was issued this January for six months, but the council received confirmation on Monday 9 September that the notice would be withdrawn.
In a letter to Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke, Jim McMahon MP, Minister for Local Government, wrote:
“The department recognises the steps Middlesbrough Council has taken to address the serious issues at the authority since the revised notice was issued, including making positive changes to personnel in key leadership positions, the delivery of the improvement plan and the establishment of infrastructure for ongoing improvement in culture, governance and financial sustainability.”
Council staff have worked together with elected representatives and an independent improvement board to resolve the administration’s problems.
Mayor Cooke, who was elected in May 2023, said:
“It’s great to have this validation from government that we are now on the right path.”
On the financial front there’s still work to be done. Max Soule of the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government commented in a letter to the council’s Chief Executive Clive Heaphy:
“Whilst the council’s financial position has improved since the first Notice was issued in January 2023, we note that significant financial risks remain. We recognise the work the council has undertaken to understand its previous financial position and the strategies in place to address these through transformation.”
There are proposals for the Local Government Association to undertake a corporate review early next year.
In other good news the Department for Education has confirmed it has withdrawn its involvement in the council’s Children’s Services.
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