We are changing and improving
Slough Borough Council is changing to improve how we work and deliver services. Action is being taken to regain financial stability and create a well-run council for the good of all.
Improvements include:
- steadying the council’s financial position and raising standards for financial management
- introducing new processes to make the council more efficient and accountable
- forming a new model for how we will work more effectively in the future
- embedding robust governance and decision making.
We are diligently putting measures in place to be more efficient, make best use of resources, and put people first.
Intervention background
The council’s current improvement and recovery began in late 2021 when the Government sent commissioners in to oversee the management of the council.
The Government intervention began after it was found the council had failed to meet its Best Value Duty and was under performing in key areas. Councils have a Best Value Duty to continuously improve through a combination of economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.
In October 2024, the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced Slough Borough Council will stay under government intervention for a further two years until November 2026. More details about the government intervention are in our news section and the ministerial announcement is on the government website.
Council intervention timeline – key events
- 30 June 2021 – the government called for an external review into Slough Borough Council’s financial position after the council sought exceptional financial support from the government during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- 25 October 2021 – an external review, led by Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), provided evidence that the council had failed in its Best Value Duty. As a result, the Secretary of State stated they were minded to use their powers to intervene at the council.
- 1 December 2021 – following consideration, the Secretary of State confirmed commissioners would be sent to manage to the day-to-day running of the council.
- 9 June 2022 – the first commissioners report was published.
- 28 July 2022 - the Secretary of State announced that he was minded to use his powers to expand the intervention at the Council.
- 1 September 2022 – Intervention was expanded.
- 4 May 2023 – local elections led to a chance in political leadership from Labour to Conservative with no overall control.
- The commissioners second, third, fourth and fifth reports were submitted between December 2022 and October 2024.
- 22 October 2024 – following the publication of the commissioners’ fifth report, the Secretary of State announced they were minded to issue new directions to the council that would extend the intervention to 30 November 2026.
- 20 November 2024 – the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) officially confirmed that the intervention will continue at Slough Borough Council until November 2026. The Minister also confirmed the appointment of Will Tuckley, Chief Executive, as a Managing Director Commissioner (MDC). The MDC will have the same powers as Slough’s other commissioners. The MDC role will be a dual role alongside the chief executive’s responsibilities for managing the day-to-day operations of the council.
Slough Children’s First and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)
In a separate yet related matter, Children’s Social Care Services in Slough have been in intervention since 2012. The current Department for Education (DfE) commissioner was appointed in October 2022 to oversee the necessary improvements in practice.
In January 2023, Ofsted judged Slough Children First (SCF), the company commissioned by Slough Borough Council to deliver social care services, as ‘Requires Improvement’, while ‘The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families’ was deemed inadequate.
The SCF improvement plan is overseen by an improvement board chaired by the commissioner which takes place on a six-weekly basis.
In April 2024, Ofsted revisited SCF to carry out a focused visit which evidenced progress. The intervention is ongoing. Slough Borough Council’s SEND services are also under intervention. The SEND services continue to be managed within the council, with quarterly visits from the DfE and under governance of a monthly strategic board attended by the DfE Commissioner.
More information
The government publishes documents about the Intervention at Slough Borough Council on their website.