Byers to sieze control in Hackney
Stephen Byers is set to take control of Hackney Borough Council following a damning report from the Audit Commission.
The embattled council has been referred to the secretary of state for local government after the Commission found Hackney’s financial position was far worse than had previously been anticipated.
The Commission said the council had not been able to control its finances and lacked the management capacity ‘to procure services effectively’.
Under the Local Government Act 1999, Byers has the power to intervene in the running of a local authority where he believes it is not meeting its obligations under the ‘Best Value’ regime.
Sir Andrew Foster, controller of the Audit Commission, said: ‘Urgent action is needed to improve the services the council delivers to its citizens and to bring its finances under control.’
He said the Commission did not believe Hackney had made sufficient progress in implementing recommendations made in an earlier Commission report.
Byers said he would be studying the details of the Commission? referral before deciding what action to take.
He said: ‘We will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that front-line services are not put at risk and local people get the quality of services they need and deserve.’
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