Government intervention in Peterborough city council formally ends
The Government has formally ended its oversight of Peterborough City Council, following improvements in governance, finance and culture over the past three years.
Last updated 19th May 2025
Peterborough City Council is no longer under Government oversight, following a letter from the Minister for Local Government confirming the end of the intervention.
The council had asked for help in 2021 after problems were found with how it was being run and how it was handling its finances. An independent panel of experts was brought in to give advice and check on progress. This panel stopped its work in March this year, after the council set its latest budget.
The Government has now confirmed the council is able to manage without extra support.
In the letter, the minister praised the council for making changes, including better teamwork between councillors and staff, stronger financial plans, and a more open and organised way of working.
Councillor Dennis Jones, Leader of Peterborough City Council, said: “This is fantastic news from the Government and testament to the improvements we have made in the past three years. As the letter from the minister acknowledges, challenges still exist in relation to our finances, as they do for many councils, but we now have the foundations in place to support the necessary reform in this area.”
He added: “I would like to thank everyone who has played such a huge part in our transformation journey, not least our Chief Executive Matt and his leadership team, all council staff, our members and of course the membership of our Improvement Panel who were always supportive and constructive in their advice and challenge.”
Chief Executive Matt Gladstone said: “The council now is unrecognisable to the one I joined three years ago and the transformation in a number of key areas is commendable.
“We now have a three-year financial plan, we’ve reviewed all our companies and brought back in house or disbanded those that are not working for us, and there are strengthened relationships between officers and members including through the cross-party Financial Sustainability Working Group.
“We know that financial pressures remain and we are developing innovative and creative ways to provide services differently so that they meet the needs of residents whilst supporting our efforts to become financially sustainable.
“This very positive news would not have been possible without an immense amount of hard work, dedication and willingness from our staff to change and adapt and I am grateful to every one of them for their ongoing support and commitment to deliver what is set out in our Corporate Strategy to create a city of opportunity for all.”