{"id":80143,"date":"2017-03-28T16:55:13","date_gmt":"2017-03-28T16:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=0f71848b1b3befa905505a66c968bbea"},"modified":"2017-03-28T16:55:13","modified_gmt":"2017-03-28T16:55:13","slug":"press-release-return-of-full-democratic-accountability-to-tower-hamlets-confirmed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=80143","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Return of full democratic accountability to Tower Hamlets confirmed"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This follows a 2-year intervention by central government after an independent inspection found the accountability issues at the council.<\/p>\n

While the team of commissioners will leave, new directions will be put in place for 18 months that require the council to report progress to Mr Javid every quarter.<\/p>\n

This will allow him to keep a close eye on the borough to ensure taxpayers\u2019 money is put to best use and improvements continue.<\/p>\n

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said:<\/p>\n

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I\u2019m confident that Tower Hamlets council is on the right track to provide the services their residents deserve and rightly expect. That\u2019s why I have decided to return all powers to the council.<\/p>\n

I want to make sure that taxpayers\u2019 money is put to the best use, in an open and transparent way. So I will want to hear from Tower Hamlets every three months on the progress they\u2019re making.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Communities Secretary to continue \u2018close eye\u2019<\/h2>\n

Since 2014, government-appointed commissioners have been overseeing key functions at Tower Hamlets.<\/p>\n

This followed an independent inspection by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, which warned of a breakdown in democratic accountability and a significant misuse of public funds.<\/p>\n

Since the commissioners were appointed, a new Mayor has been elected, a top officer team has been put in place, and an improvement plan is being implemented.<\/p>\n

Following continued improvement by the council, particularly over the past year, Mr Javid has confirmed that commissioners will leave the council from the end of March 2017.<\/p>\n

However, directions will remain in place so that the Mayor and the council report progress directly to him every 3 months. A Best Value Improvement Board, including councillors and independent representatives, will oversee this work.<\/p>\n

Further information<\/h2>\n

Three commissioners have been working with Tower Hamlets council. They are:<\/p>\n