The short-lived Office for Local Government (Oflog) will be closed by the end of the year, local government minister Jim McMahon has confirmed.
Mr McMahon yesterday wrote to Josh Goodman, the chief executive of Oflog, informing him of the closure and explaining that the Government needed to invest limited resources in front line services.
The minister said the Government needed to focus on fixing the local audit system, which is not part of Oflog’s remit, and would be working with the sector to establish other ways to ensure councils are ‘fit, legal and decent.’
The 18-month-old watchdog was also hampered with a ‘vague and broad remit’ that risked ‘duplication of functions performed elsewhere.’
‘We will be working with the sector to establish other ways to ensure that local authorities are fit, legal and decent. In doing so we will incorporate the benefits of relevant work done by Oflog to date,’ Mr McMahon added.
