Minister launches statutory intervention at London borough, expands envoy team
The Government has launched an intervention into the London Borough of Tower Hamlets after concluding that the local authority is not meeting its best value duty.
In a written ministerial statement issued today, the Local Government Minister, Jim McMahon, said he believed the council is "failing to comply with its Best Value Duty in relation to Continuous Improvement, Governance, Leadership, Culture and Partnerships".
The decision comes two months after the publication of a Best Value Inspection that revealed failures relating to governance, leadership, and culture, as well as news of 'ministerial envoys' being sent into the London borough.
McMahon has issued directions under section 15(5) of the Local Government 1999 Act to implement the proposed statutory support package.
The minister said: "That support package, to be in place until 31 March 2028, is centred on putting in place a team of Ministerial Envoys to work comprehensively within the Council, acting as advisors, mentors and monitors, to oversee its improvement work."
The directions issued require the council to:
- work with the ministerial envoys to reconfigure the council's existing Transformation Advisory Board (the Board) and draw on existing and additional members to appoint independent and external Leads for Leadership, Governance and Culture & Partnerships
- undertake recruitment of a permanent appointment to lead the improvement work in the council
- prepare and agree with the Board a fully costed Continuous Improvement Plan, and report regularly and in public to the Board on its delivery
- cooperate with the ministerial envoys and Board Leads to prepare and implement comprehensive programmes of cultural change and political mentoring, and report regularly and in public to the Board on its delivery
- have regard to and respond promptly and in public to any recommendations from the Board with respect to the Continuous Improvement Plan and its implementation
- work with the Local Government Association to agree a follow-up review visit to the 2023 Corporate Peer Challenge, and
- report to the Secretary of State on the delivery of these Directions, with these reports having been considered by Full Council, at six monthly intervals, or at such intervals as the Secretary of State may direct.
"I have also directed the council to cooperate with the Ministerial Envoys, and to allow them all reasonable access to their premises, documents, employees or members in support of their work," McMahon added.
The minister said the package "acknowledges the political mandate the Mayor holds, whilst recognising the need to tackle deeply rooted and persistent issues".
He continued: "It is designed to strengthen and expand the improvement work that the council has already begun and demonstrates how this Government is committed to resetting the relationship between local and central Government through genuine collaboration and engagement.
"This action is not undertaken lightly, and I remain committed to working in partnership with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to provide whatever support is needed to ensure its compliance with the Best Value Duty.
"I hope with focus and oversight the necessary improvements will come at pace, but I have not ruled out the possibility of further action in the future, in the interests of Tower Hamlets residents, should this prove necessary."
Kim Bromley-Derry has been nominated ministerial envoy, and will be supported by two assistant envoys, Pam Parkes and Shokat Lal.
The envoy team was previously made up of just two people, but McMahon decided to increase the number of assistant envoys to two rather than one.
The envoys will report on the council's progress against its improvement agenda after the first four months, and then regularly at a timeframe yet to be agreed.
Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman said the council has "much to be proud of" but that there "is room for improvement and the expertise of the Envoys combined with our staff and members will help us achieve greater outcomes".
He also welcomed the intervention as an "opportunity to celebrate our achievements and work with industry experts".
Steve Halsey, Chief Executive of Tower Hamlets Council meanwhile said the London borough looked forward to working with the envoys.
He added: “We also look forward to working in collaboration with the Council’s many partners as the Council’s improvement plan evolves.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the Council to not only ensure the provision of high-quality services to our residents and communities, but also engage positively with the collaborative and supportive approach promoted by the government.”
Adam Carey
