It’s because the authority is more than £1 billion in debt.
A “Best Value” report into governance at the council has detailed 13 recommendations including debt reduction.
Inspectors said although there had been steps to make improvements, there were serious concerns across a number of areas.
Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council, Cllr Joanne Sexton, said, “This Group Administration has faced a challenging time and has been actively pursuing the right solution to manage the historical debt that it has inherited. We have met with the Local Government Minister from central government, and we have agreed to work in partnership to take decisive action in the remaining time we have before local government reorganisation is implemented.
In just over one year, we will see new unitary authorities emerge, initially in a shadow form, before Spelthorne is expected to lose its sovereignty in 2027. Across the whole of Surrey there are significant financial pressures, with a £5.6 billion debt, which is why these proactive steps are necessary for Spelthorne to position itself to take an active approach to reducing our debt. Our pledge remains that we will always put residents at the heart of everything we do”
Deputy Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council, Cllr Chris Bateson, said, “We understand the seriousness of the report’s recommendations and acknowledge the full implications for our authority. Whilst many financial concerns were historically inherited, this administration continues to demonstrate that we have a solid track record of delivering services for our residents and that we are well positioned to drive forward these recommendations. We will work together in partnership with colleagues from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in the best interest of residents in Spelthorne.”
