A HEATED exchange has been shared between political leaders over the tough financial situation Slough Borough Council faces.

Councillor James Swindlehurst (Labour,  Cippenham Green), the leader of the council, and Cllr Wayne Strutton (Conservative, Haymill and Lynch Hill) leader of the opposition clashed over IT and private finance initiative (PFI) contracts.

The two traded stern words during a cabinet meeting where the council’s Labour administration was asked to note the council’s Finance Recovery Plan and approve plans for Government commissioners to oversee improvements at the council over the next three years.

Beginning the meeting, council leader James Swindlehurst (Labour) said: “I as leader of the council accept the findings of both reports. I don’t think there’s any mileage in trying to challenge them, we accept the basic issues they identify.”

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Cllr Martin Carter (Labour, Britwell and Northborough), cabinet member for customer services and corporate support, asked Steven Mair, section 151 officer, whether the cabinet can do any more to assist the commission process.

Officer Mair said there was nothing specific being asked for at the moment, but “there will be a series of very challenging decisions for everybody to make.”

The commissioners have not been appointed yet, but officer Mair said the Government is likely to appoint ‘two to three’ commissioners  by the end of November, at a cost of over £1 million over the three years.

Cllr Swindlehurst was grilled by Cllr Strutton during the meeting, who was present as a guest under rule 30 of the council’s constitution.

 Cllr Strutton said: “I’m concerned that we get these budgets right, we’re very good at talking the talk, but not delivering the substance within it.

“We’ve talked about PFIs, we’ve never taken proper actions to counter the costs at the end of it.

“We seem to have been very lax on that.

“We’ve been promised profits that have never been delivered. My fear is that Mr Mair has done the work members should have been doing. We’ve been talking for five to six years about improving our IT, with false promises and delivery. The proof is in the pudding, and we’re yet to eat the pudding.”

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There was then a heated exchange between Cllr Swindlehurst and Cllr Strutton, who accused the leader of interrupting him.

Meanwhile Cllr Swindlehurst asked Cllr Strutton to focus the points he was making on the Recovery and Renewal plan.

Cllr Swindlehurst said:”Could you make the point Wayne?”

Cllr Strutton replied: “You’re the chief of political grandstanding at all times.”

At that point, Cllr Swindlehurst said: “I’m chair of this cabinet and this meeting is conducted for us to do our business, you’re speaking as our guest under rule 30, please make your point precisely.”

Cllr Strutton then left the meeting with a parting shot at Cllr Swindlehurst, and pondered out loud why officers had not stepped in to control the discussion.

Slough Observer: The moment Cllr Wayne Strutton, the Conservative leader of the opposition at Slough Borough Council stormed out of the meeting. Credit: Slough Borough CouncilThe moment Cllr Wayne Strutton, the Conservative leader of the opposition at Slough Borough Council stormed out of the meeting. Credit: Slough Borough Council

You can view the meeting and coverage from it in this Twitter thread here: 

During the meeting, the cabinet accepted DLUHC’s review of the management of the council and agreed to enact a Recovery and Renewal plan to change the council to bring it back to financial stability. 

 It also noted the Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report – 2021/22 which covered the council’s financial position up to September of this year.