Council leader David Mellen has accused the Conservative party of acting in its own interests, as it emerged that commissioners could be summoned by the government to intervene in the functioning of the authority. The council leader has apologized to the people of Nottingham for the “mistakes made in the past”, but in a startling statement said he did not consider it necessary to bring commissioners.
Speaking after millions of pounds of taxpayer money were “badly spent” or injected into the doomed Robin Hood Energy company, Cllr Mellen still argued that the City Council’s misfortunes were due to conservative cuts and that the decision to send commissioners was effective. a distraction technique.
The authority is already being overseen by a government-appointed board, chaired by Sir Tony Redmond, following the collapse of Robin Hood Energy in January 2020. In May this year, it was revealed that up to 40 million free from the council’s housing income account had been badly spent on the wrong services.
The rent of the tenants of the municipal housing, which should have to be injected into the housing and municipal repairs, was entered into the general services of the town hall. The Penn Report, commissioned by the council, says the money was badly spent and in some cases was used to prop up other municipal services and prevent job losses.
The government wants to send commissioners to Nottingham City Council – read more here.
The Broadmarsh center of Nottingham is almost completely demolished; read more here.
In a letter published on Thursday 23 June to Sir Tony Redmond, MP Kemi Badenoch said the Secretary of State for the Department of Leveling, Housing and Communities was “willing to intervene” in the town hall case. Sir Tony Redmond currently chairs a government-appointed board that oversees the council.
Cllr Mellen said, “That [Robin Hood Energy] it didn’t work and we had to end it. You can’t take a quarter of our budget out and wait for things to go back to normal – the context in which we’ve been operating is important.
“We do not agree that this is a necessary step – we have shown significant improvements, but this is a step that the government has taken. It has much more to do with the fortune of the Conservative Party than Nottingham – it is no coincidence that this came out on the same day of the by-elections in Wakefield and Tiveton and Honiton.
“I’ve apologized many times before for mistakes made in the past, I did it many times when the first reservations about Robin Hood Energy, and I’m not afraid to apologize to the people of Nottingham again. It’s not something I want. to do, but it ‘s not something I’m afraid to do. “
He added: “This is a council that is committed to controlling our finances. We will work with these commissioners if they come, although we do not believe it is a necessary step.”
Sir Tony Redmond could take over the post of Chief Commissioner at Nottingham City Council
Mellen told Nottinghamshire Live that he does not believe the commissioners will affect ordinary services managed by Nottingham City Council, such as rubbish collection, although he cannot be sure of the exact implications until it happens. It is also unclear how large projects such as the redevelopment of the Broad Marsh area will be affected.
He believes the mistakes made in the past stemmed from advice that was encouraged by previous conservative governments to be commercial, which ultimately led to bankrupt companies like Robin Hood Energy.
If a local authority cannot demonstrate its ability to effectively improve its own governance and finances, better value commissioners will be sent. They act as advisors who usually have extensive experience and knowledge in public sector functions, such as police forces and local authorities.
Councilor Andrew Rule, leader of the Conservative party in Nottingham, said: “I am very disappointed to read the Labor group’s statement on today’s events, which is quite out of touch with reality. The reality is that this has culminated. from Robin Hood Energy to The recent illegal spending, so trying to disguise it and blame the Conservatives is not right.
“They have absolutely disappointed Nottingham. The council has had numerous opportunities to reform, which it has not done: we have now reached a situation where we have run out of time.”
The current executive director of Nottingham City Council is Mel Barrett, who was appointed in May 2020, replacing Ian Curryer. He admitted in an interview with Nottinghamshire Live in January 2021 that the City Council was facing a ‘major challenge’, but added: ‘I am ready for the challenge and I believe political leadership is ready for the challenge and what all we have to do is develop this recovery plan and then implement it. “
In a statement released after the latest news, Barrett said: “We have made great strides in our recovery and improvement plan over the past 18 months, working closely with the government-appointed independent improvement and assurance board to oversee its implementation. implementation.
“We have had a positive relationship with the Board and its chairman Sir Tony Redmond. Therefore, the appointment of Sir Tony as chief commissioner provides reassurance and continuity. This, and the fact that the commissioners have been appointed by two years instead of the usual three, it is a recognition of the progress we have already achieved during the last 18 months ”.
Read more here:
Read more related articles Read more related articles