Local government minister Nick Raynsford has given struggling Hull council an ultimatum to shape up or face a full takeover by Whitehall.
Last Thursday Raynsford said he would intervene – effectively imposing a government takeover – if Hull did not sign up to a reform package being negotiated between government appointee Tony Allen, the ODPM and the council.

This could include additional funding, extra staff for Allen's team or more staff for the council.

The warning follows meetings between council members and the government's monitoring board at the end of March, which led opposition councillors to fear the council was about to be put under direct government control.

Hull was put under supervision, and a team of inspectors appointed to help members and officers, in November after a continued failure to deal with its surplus housing stock and in the light of poor leadership (HT 7 November 2003, page 9).

The government wants the existing council team to concentrate on completing its housing options appraisal, and identifying how it will improve landlord services.

The monitoring board will return every other month to check the council's progress.

Ken Foote, Hull council's corporate director for health and social care, said: "We are working positively with the appointees team to progress the improvement and recovery agenda. Additional skills and capacity are needed, and these are being jointly procured by the council and the ODPM."

Source

Housing Today