Newham Council will argue it has improved enough to “not be of concern to national government” in May, its top boss has said.
The government issued a “best value notice” to the local authority in May last year – a warning that it was concerned with the way the council was running.
The council’s interim chief executive, Paul Martin, said he will ask for the notice to be lifted this year.
He said the town hall leaders will “put our case that Newham Council has made very significant progress”.
The Labour government told the council it had “concerns” about the local authority’s ability to meet its duties when it issued the best value notice last year.
Although not legally binding, it was effectively a warning that the government could intervene if the council didn’t improve.
The notice said the government expected the council “take steps to improve its financial stability”.
It also said the council should “at pace” recommendations made by auditors, the Local Government Authority and the Regulator for Social Housing – which had awarded the council’s housing service the lowest possible grade.
An update to the council’s cabinet committee this week said the authority is now “delivering high-performing services in some areas and continues to make improvements in others”.
However it added that “further work is needed to ensure consistently high standards across the board”.
The report noted that the council is expected to set a balanced budget next year – after being awarded higher and expected government funding. It also said the council is on course to underspend by £8million this year.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (20th) Labour councillor Blossom Young, responsible for council housing improvements, said the authority has “seen some really key areas of progress”.
She said the service had “increased performance” around its speed in responding to requests for repairs.
However, she also said there was “more to do” particularly around carrying out fire risk assessments and electrical safety checks.
Labour councillor Charlene McLean, responsible for resident engagement, said the council had also improved its complaints handling time.
The report also pointed to the “outstanding” rating that Ofsted inspectors gave to the council’s children’s services last week.
And it said that although the Care Quality Commission had said the council’s adult social services “requires improvement” it was just one mark off “good”.
Councillors on an overview and scrutiny committee also discussed the report last Tuesday. Martin told its members the council hoped the government would agree to lift the best value notice in May.
He said: “The government holds the cards on this. My goal is they should have sufficient evidence that they feel absolutely able to lift that best value notice – that remains our goal.”
He added the council would “put our case that Newham Council has made very significant progress, therefore should not be of concern to national government”.
