Government set to intervene in running of city
THE Government is expected to intervene in the running of Stoke-on-Trent City Council within days.
Ministers are holding daily talks about the crisis gripping the authority. And an announcement is expected on what action Whitehall will take over the council's rejection of proposed all-out elections.
-
The news comes as the authority is still reeling from the arrests of elected mayor Mark Meredith and former Conservative leader councillor Roger Ibbs as part of a police investigation into alleged council corruption.
The national media attention has heightened fears that the Government may take drastic steps to ensure political stability in the city.
A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said Whitehall was “ready” to take action to see that the city is run properly.
He said: “While this matter is in the hands of the council and the legal authorities, we are monitoring the situation closely and stand ready to play our part to enable the people of Stoke-on-Trent to have the effective and accountable council which they deserve.”
While the police investigation has brought intervention closer, it was the council's deadlocked vote in January over switching to all-out elections that first raised concerns in Whitehall.
The proposal was a key recommendation laid down last year in the highly critical Stoke-on-Trent Governance Commission report on the state of the city's political system.
After failing to secure the necessary two-thirds majority backing from councillors, Mr Meredith instructed interim council manager Chris Harman to urge the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, to impose whole-council elections in 2011.
Mr Harman told councillors last week that he is still awaiting the Minister's reply.
When asked whether the risk of intervention had increased following the elected mayor's arrest, he said: "We are keeping the Government Office for the West Midlands informed of events."
But a senior Labour Party source, who did not wish to be named, said Whitehall is waiting to see how the council responds to its current crisis before taking action.
He said: "At the moment, intervention is likely to be in the form of forcing the city to hold all-out elections.
"But if the council shows it is incapable of managing itself then they will step in."
Mark Fisher, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, said he is aware that the council's actions are being closely monitored in Whitehall.
He said: "The three city MPs have been having almost daily conversations with Hazel Blears and [Local Government Minister] John Healey.
"They are keeping a very close eye on things and the recent events here will not have helped the situation."
Bid to abolish coalition rejected: Pages 6-7; Comment: Page 10
34 Comments
View all
by Warren, Stoke on Trent
Wednesday, March 11 2009, 11:07AM
“Sorry, Srooy sould read sorry...lol”
by Warren, Stoke on Trent
Wednesday, March 11 2009, 11:05AM
“David... good point, srooy Gorden if you are readind this, and I'll put you a n extra roast spud on the plate as well.”
by David, Burslem
Wednesday, March 11 2009, 10:30AM
“When criticised for his poor spelling and grammar, Warren has often been at pains - quite rightly - to point out the disability from which he suffers. It is, therefore, particularly disappointing to see him ridiculing Gordon Brown over his false eye. If you can't take it Warren, don't dish it out.”
by The Joker, Joke-on-Trent
Wednesday, March 11 2009, 9:26AM
“Question,
What makes someone aspire to be a councillor, what do they get out of it, answers please especially from incumbent counsellors or the Mayor.”
by Warren, Stoke on Trent
Wednesday, March 11 2009, 9:05AM
“Thank you Mark, I try my best to see the lighter side, I'v also knocked together a nice Victora Sponge for afters. Mr. Browns more then welcome to drop in, so long as he keeps his glass eye in.”
by Chris, Newstead
Tuesday, March 10 2009, 9:56PM
“I have concerns of Whitehall intervention. I feel we cant tar everyone in the council with the same brush of been useless.
My main concern is that last time Central Government intervened we had the likes of Serco forced upon us and we are all aware of the fast tracking they are trying to do with the changes in education.”
by Anon, Mow Cop
Tuesday, March 10 2009, 9:48PM
“There's something rotten in the state of Stoke-on-Trent (parphrased from Hamlet)”
by Joe, Hanley
Tuesday, March 10 2009, 9:36PM
“Mark Meredith says he has stood down from frontline civic duties, but this is not the case. Deputy Major Pervez when interviewed clearly stated he would be reporting to the elected Mayor and pushing ahead with his programme of change. If this is the case then clearly Mark Meredith is still in charge pulling the strings of his puppet and has not stood down at all. I cannot understand why Councillors and Council managers are sitting back and allowing this to happen. Whilst I would hope for the sake of the City Mayor Meredith and Councillor Ibbs are proved to be innocent, I do not think the police have arrested them without good cause? On this basis all of the decisions and policies they have been involved in must be clouded with suspicion and should be investigated. Even majority decisions do not stand up because these men heavily influence the Labour Party and Conservative Independent Alliance whips. In particular the Strategic Partnership, concerning the transfer of Council staff and support functions to private companies and major development projects such as the City Centre, the Business District and Schools for the Future programmes should be stopped and reconsidered. Anything involving property and partners especially must be considered carefully because of the potential for corruption. Private companies only invest where there is a profit to be made and this must not be at the expense of the public purse. Their profit is by enlarge money taken out of the local economy and even out of the UK, which is counter productive to regeneration. Duel standards are in operation because the senior Council officers investigated over the Cultural were suspended while the investigations were carried out and this was not a police investigation and they were not arrested. Mayor Meredith and Coucillor Ibbs should be suspended and banned from any contact with the Council throughout the police investigations. By not doing this and blindly pushing ahead with these major projects the Council managers and all the other Councillors clearly are not fit to be in office. It has left me doubting all of them and wondering who else is potentially involved if Mayor Meredith and Councillor Ibbs are guilty. What a mess!”
by Mark, Dresden
Tuesday, March 10 2009, 8:03PM
“After Reading all the reader comments to this article I'd buy the sentinel more often if it actually printed some. It would outsell viz everyday ! We might have a shut corrupt council but we certainly haven't lost our sense of humour in Stoke-on-Trent :-)
"think I'll put a chicken in the oven ". Lmao”
by david, stoke
Tuesday, March 10 2009, 7:01PM
“i snt numereous emails to the councillors and they just not bothered at all,”