Slough leader survives motion of no confidence

The Conservatives, and independent councillor Madhuri Bedi (Foxborough) called for the leader, councillor James Swindlehurst (Lab: Cippenham Green), to resign through a motion of no confidence after the council was forced to issue a section 114 earlier this month, which freezes non-essential spending.

At a full council meeting on Thursday, July 22, the opposition said Cllr Swindlehurst has overseen a “culture of financial mismanagement” and a lack of transparency and scrutiny which led to borrowing quadrupling to £760m and a projected black hole of £159m by 2025.

But the Labour majority backed the leader, councillor James Swindlehurst (Lab: Cippenham Green), believing a new face will not resolve the borough’s money troubles and will prolong the problem.

READ MORE: Slough's current and former leaders row over financial crisis

The leader of the Conservatives, councillor Wayne Strutton (Haymill and Lynch Hill), warned the crisis will “most likely get worst” and scolded Labour for ignoring his previous warnings as well as “turning a blind eye” to “horrendous” contract management, such as Osbourne’s.

Cllr Strutton said: “We are going to see far, far greater effects on those in most need, those elderly, disabled people, those struggling because of the inadequacies and lack of real goals of this organisation to be good.”

Cllr Madhuri Bedi (Image: ,)

Cllr Bedi added: “We have spent tens of millions of pounds purchasing unnecessary vanity projects such as Observatory House and committed ourselves to over-ambitious projects, which quite frankly we can’t afford.

“There’s nothing wrong with being over-ambitious for our town and our residents but this ambition must be met with sound financial management and governance.

“Instead, Cllr Swindlehurst has overseen a reckless spending spree and seemingly oblivious to the obvious financial risk.”

In response, Cllr Swindlehurst reiterated he did offer his resignation to the Labour group but rejected it and told him to “sort out” the problems as they didn’t want to add a leadership crisis that could prolong the council’s troubles.

READ MORE: Slough Labour "did not accept" council leader's resignation

He said: “I am held to account both by my group, by this council meeting, by the residents that elect me when I stand for election, and a range of resident’s events, meetings, questions that go on throughout the town all year round.

“You can never avoid an election for the simple reason they happen almost every year, and in that sense, we are accountable to members of the public very frequently, indeed.”

But the opposition deflected, saying he is accountable to Slough residents. Not the Labour group.

Labour councillors defended the leader, before voting against the motion.

Cllr Preston Brooker (Langley Kedermister) told the opposition to stop being “silly billies” and work with Labour to get the council back on track, while Cllr Roger Davies (Cippenham Green) said the motion is “rank of opportunism”.

An attempt to oust the council’s chief executive, Josie Wragg, was made by Cllr Bedi via a motion – but was voted down by Labour.

Cllr Swindlehurst defended Ms Wragg, saying: “She has been here for two years. We had a very extensive recruitment process to choose Josie and she was by far the best candidate we saw.

“I continue to have full confidence in her as the chief executive of this council and I don’t think it’s fair that Josie is blamed for issues most of which were in the 2016/17 and 17/18 years.”