The Government has strengthened its intervention in Tower Hamlets after accusations the council is more interested in protecting its image than delivering reforms at the required pace.

In a written ministerial statement, communities secretary Steve Reed confirmed this week new directions under the Local Government Act, citing ongoing failures to meet ‘best value’ duties and weaknesses in leadership, financial oversight and transparency.

A new report by the Government-appointed envoys acknowledged the local authority had made progress in some areas, including the delivery of a staff survey and the development of a more mature Continuous Improvement Plan.

However, it concluded that ‘the overall pace of change and the grip of the officer and member leadership to drive improvement is insufficient’, adding that the council’s leadership was ‘unnecessarily defensive’ and more interested in ‘managing the message’ than delivering key reforms.

Announcing the new directions, Reed said he was satisfied that the council was continuing to fail to comply with its best value duty, citing in particular its use of resources. He added that it was also not demonstrating the ‘required level of leadership grip’ to drive change.

The revised measures expand the role of the envoys, granting them oversight of key functions including governance, senior appointments and financial management, with powers held in reserve if progress stalls.

Responding in a statement on its website, Tower Hamlets Council acknowledged the need to ‘go further and faster’ in its improvement programme.

‘While no local authority wants to be in intervention, we recognise the need for change. We are focused on tackling historic and current issues, while delivering the excellent services that the envoys recognise.’