Laura Sharman 22 July 2014

Intervention at Doncaster to end early, confirms Pickles

Government control of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council is due to end early, following improvements at the council.

Communities secretary Eric Pickles said the statutory intervention of the council would draw to an end as soon as its children’s services are transferred to an independent trust.

The Department for Communities and Local Government intervened back in 2010 after an Audit Commission report found ‘serious failings’ in the council’s corporate governance. However, Pickles said the council’s performance has now ‘materially improved’ so the intervention would close before the scheduled end date of July 2015.

He said: ‘It is clear to me that, given the level of improvement that Doncaster has now achieved, their firm plans for the future, and their readiness to engage with the wider local government sector on improvement, continuing the statutory corporate intervention will add little, if any, value.’

Pickles confirmed control would be handed back to the council as soon as its Children’s Services Trust is established at the end of September.

‘Whilst statutory intervention is rightly a measure of last resort, its use at Doncaster is a clear demonstration of how appropriate intervention can be a powerful means of successfully addressing deep-rooted failings in a council and ensuring that it is able to provide the leadership and local services that local communities rightly expect,’ Pickles added.

Jo Miller, chief executive of the council, said: 'This is a landmark moment in the council’s improvement journey. We have changed for the better and it is with huge thanks to our staff and partners for their drive and determination, and who have worked together collaboratively, that we are seeing the results today.

'At the end of September our children’s services will be moving into an independent trust and we are well aware of the significant improvements we still must make for children and families, along with the other public service reform in the new financial climate. Having said that, with the strong governance and leadership we now have in place, we are in the right shape to improve the lives for the people who live, learn and work in Doncaster.'

Photo: cwyatt1/Shutterstock.com

Black hole spending review image

Black hole spending review

Jonathan Werran, chief executive of Localis, reflects on what the Spending Review means for local government.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Assistant Director for Early Intervention and Prevention

Staffordshire County Council
£95,083 - £99,735 plus car allowance £4,395 and a market supplement up to £10,000
Staffordshire is a great county to live, work and invest and is a place where most people enjoy a good quality of life Staffordshire
Recuriter: Staffordshire County Council

Assistant Director for Family Safeguarding

Staffordshire County Council
£95,083 - £99,735 plus car allowance £4,395 and a market supplement up to £10,000
Staffordshire is a great county to live, work and invest and is a place where most people enjoy a good quality of life Staffordshire
Recuriter: Staffordshire County Council

Community Transport Co-Ordinator - Braintree District Council

Essex County Council
£13.5700 - £14.9500 per hour
Community Transport Co-ordinator - Braintree District Council Temporary, Full Time£13.57 - £14.95 per HourBraintree, EssexClosing Date
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Procurement Manager

Essex County Council
£46388.0000 - £54573.0000 per annum
Procurement ManagerPermanent, Full Time£46,388 to £54,573 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Youth Officer (CDC)

City Of Doncaster Council
Grade 7, £27,259 - £29,955 (Pay award pending)
The City of Doncaster Council is a confident, ambitious organisation Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: City Of Doncaster Council
Linkedin Banner