Best value inspections at Warrington and Spelthorne extended with lead commissioners asking for appointment of assistants

The two councils were informed of the extensions by Max Soule, Deputy Director for Local Government Stewardship and Interventions at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Soule noted in both letters that the lead inspectors had each requested assistant inspectors be appointed to the inspections.

The requests are still being considered, according to the letter.

Inspections at the two local authorities were announced on 8 May 2024 and are now scheduled to end on 29 November 2024.

The Government decided to send Lesley Seary into Spelthorne as lead inspector partly due to the council's debt, which was at £1.096bn in March 2023, the second highest level of debt for a district council in England.

A July 2023 CIPFA review, which found the council required expert independent support to assist with its immediate and ongoing financial challenges, also contributed to the intervention.

Seary's inspection covers governance scrutiny and risk arrangements. She has been asked to direct "particular attention" to the governance arrangements and decision-making conducted across the local authority.

Inspectors were meanwhile called into Warrington to investigate the circumstances behind the local authority's debt of almost £2bn.

The former interim Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Paul Najsarek, is the lead inspector.

The inspectors are scheduled to hand in the first reports on their respective authorities by 30 August.

Adam Carey