A BEST value notice issued by the government to BCP Council more than a year ago will not be reissued, it has been confirmed.
The former Conservative government issued the local authority with the notice in August 2023 raising several concerns about the culture, governance and finance at BCP.
Issues included the relationship between councillors and officers, the mid-term financial plan, transformation servings and FuturePlaces.
However, the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed it will not renew the notice - giving the council a clean bill of health.
Max Soule, deputy director for local government stewardship and intervention, noted that “significant progress” has been made from BCP Council’s new Three Towns Alliance administration and officers.
In a letter to BCP’s chief executive Graham Farrant, Mr Soule said: “BCP has worked positively with the department and has set out and implemented a range of improvement measures to address the identified concerns.”
He noted the progress made on the medium-term financial plan and budget, which had to find around £40m worth of savings.
Prior to the Best Value Notice being served, BCP Council's chief executive Graham Farrant also carried out an internal assurance review into the authority.
Mr Farrant said he and the council is "delighted" that the government has recognised the "hard work, effort and focus it has taken from everyone at the council" to have the notice lifted.
He added: “Throughout this process we have aimed to be open and honest regarding the challenges we face and our progress in meeting those challenges.
“We’ve continued to provide updates and progress reports through the council’s governance framework.
“As a result of our joint efforts we now have a more resilient council with a sustainable financial future, we have strengthened governance and developed a culture built upon respect and pride.
“But we recognise that there is no room for complacency and our positive work to improve the services provided by council for our residents, and the way that the council works, must continue.”
Millie Earl, leader of BCP Council, said it shows the government "recognises a council that is now in a much healthier place".
She said the notice was issued shortly after the May 2023 elections when her administration took over the reigns, who made the concerns raised an "absolute priority".
Cllr Earl added: “Our focus has been getting the basics right and getting our foundations in order.
"An open and honest council, with good governance in place, is the very least our residents should expect, and I am pleased that the work done to achieve this has been acknowledged.”
Since the notice was issued, BCP Council agreed to a new corporate strategy, “strengthened” its senior leadership and undertook governance reviews of subsidiary companies such as FuturePlaces, which was closed down, Mr Soule noted in his letter.
He added: “We expect the council to continue its improvement journey and acknowledge that there are still challenges ahead, including financial pressures, some of which you are discussing with the department.”
Mr Soule said the council should “continue working with” the Department for Education, where it faces significant challenges from the dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficit and SEND services.
Going forward, BCP Council will not “engage constructively and openly” on an “informal basis to ensure progress is fully embedded”.
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