OPPOSITION councillors have called for council bosses to take full accountability and responsibility as the local authority declares bankruptcy.
The Slough Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and Independent have raised their “deep concerns” over the Labour-run council officially issuing a section 114 notice – effectively declaring bankruptcy – and have demanded those responsible are held to account.
Slough Borough Council announced they would stop non-essential spending on Friday, July 2, after it was uncovered the local authority could see an estimated £96 million black hole by the end of this financial year.
The leader of the opposing Conservatives, councillor Wayne Strutton (Haymill and Lynch Hill) put the council’s financial mess down to the “over-ambition” of their major regeneration schemes and a lack of accountability and responsibility from higher-ups.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he said: “All the gloss does not make a world-class organisation. You have to have the personnel and the quality of people being held accountable for the delivery of services to have that.
“You need to have buildings that will deliver the services as public facilities, such as bus stations, that’s needed and not just look good – the buildings may look wonderful, but they might not deliver what’s needed.
READ MORE: Slough Council may face £159m black hole by 2025
“I have said that for years and I am sad for residents and businesses in Slough that it’s come to light where we are in Slough and the way the strong political leader model that’s running the town seems to be able to drive poor decision-making.”
Independent councillor Madhuri Bedi (Foxborough) said: “It’s a really privileged position that Josie Wragg [chief executive] and James Swindlehurst [council leader] have – but it comes with accountability.
“You have to show accountability and empathy to residents to what they are now having to go through.
“Really, you should be holding your hands up and saying, ‘We are accountable, and we are taking responsibility'.
“None of that has happened and, for me, I think that’s appalling.”
READ MORE: Slough: What is a section 114 notice?
The chairman of the Slough Liberal Democrats, Matthew Taylor, who stood as a candidate for Cippenham Meadows during the 2021 local election, slammed the Labour leadership’s “lack of skills” that enabled the mounting debts as well as scolding the Tories for letting Labour “off the hook” with a lack of scrutiny.
He said: “The way forward out of this fiasco will involve all councillors behaving responsibly, and those involved in creating the crisis accepting responsibility for past mistakes.
“In order to achieve a recovery over a prolonged period, it will be necessary for things to change in Slough, with new councillors elected who will work together for the good of Slough and its residents.”
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