The Conservative Government will make its final decision on whether or not to send in commissioners into Nottingham City Council 'in the next few weeks'. Ministers revealed they were "minded to" send in commissioners to take control of operations at the Labour-run council in June, but Boris Johnson's demise had since left the city in limbo.
Michael Gove, the secretary of state for the department overseeing the council, was sacked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as his leadership began to crumble, and his minister Kemi Badenoch then resigned to enter the Tory Party leadership race which continues today. Unfortunately it had been Ms Badenoch who had revealed the Government was 'minded to' send in commissioners, and communications had been lacking ever since.
Commissioners are paid up to £1,200 per day, funded by the taxpayer, and are tasked with bringing about urgent cultural, operational and financial change within local authorities. Sir Tony Redmond, the current chairman of the improvement board overseeing the council at the moment, could be selected as lead commissioner.
On June 23 this year it was revealed the HRA issues had been the final straw and minister Kemi Badenoch wrote to the council to say the Government was now "minded to" intervene further. Nothing had been heard since.
However Greg Clark, the secretary of state for Levelling Up, paid a visit to Rolls-Royce in Derby where the signing of a devolution deal was taking place. Here Nottinghamshire Live asked him about what exactly was happening.
He said: "They said they were minded to and made an invitation for people to make comments and representations and I have looked at them very carefully during the few weeks I have been in office and we will be make a decision during the next few weeks. It won't be months, it will be a few weeks.
"But I very much want to reinforce the progress that has been made. It is clear from the report and advice that Nottingham still has problems and still needs help with that. But it is help I want to give, rather than any sense of punishment."
Responding to the latest from Government, the Labour leader of the council and Dales ward councillor, David Mellen, added: "We've had the intervention of an improvement board for the past 17 months and we have worked well with those people, chaired by Sir Tony Redmond, and we believe we are making good progress in Nottingham.
"I am not convinced putting commissioners in is necessary but the Government has said they are minded to that. I have had a conversation with minister Clark today emphasising that point that he said he is thinking carefully about what is necessary for Nottingham. I am a little frustrated by the delay. Kemi Badenoch made that minded-to decision in July, we are now at the beginning of September later this week."
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