The author of a highly critical report on Hull council has been appointed to the ODPM team overseeing the council’s recovery.
Tony Allen, ex-chief executive of Hammersmith and Fulham council and the ODPM representative charged with turning the council around, has appointed Neil Newton to oversee Hull’s finances.

Newton shocked the council in October with a report identifying a £15m funding gap, saying it had ignored warnings of the problems to come. The report said Hull leader Colin Inglis did not accept the need to cut the authority’s overspend.

Newton’s was the first of three appointments made by Allen: Ivan McConnel will take charge of housing and neighbourhood renewal and Jan Ormondroyd will oversee performance management and procurement.

The team will be in place for at least nine months.

Source

Housing Today