Government intervention

On Thursday 25 May 2023, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) published the outcome of its non-statutory external assurance review into Woking Borough Council’s finances, investments and related governance.

The Secretary of State considers the council is failing in complying with its best value duty under the Local Government Act 1999. In particular, the scale of financial and commercial risk due to the council’s legacy of extraordinarily high and disproportionate levels of debt. The government’s intervention will be in place for five years.

Read the DLUHC external assurance review report

The report highlighted that the council does not have the capacity or capability to manage the severe financial challenges faced by the authority, and it must increase the pace at which the recovery must happen.

Following publication, the government formally announced a series of measures that outline the next steps. This included confirmation of a government-appointed commissioning team to work with our Corporate Leadership Team to address the authority’s ongoing financial challenges.

Read the letter sent to our Chief Executive, Julie Fisher

Commissioners

Commissioners have been appointed to Woking Borough Council for a minimum of 12 months. They are accountable to the Secretary of State and will report regularly on the council’s progress towards recovery.

During this time, commissioners will work with senior council officers to deliver an agreed recovery and action plan at pace.

The commissioners appointed for the initial 12-month period are: