Shropshire Council urged to consider asset sales in financial improvement report
Independent review outlines council's fiscal challenges
An independent report commissioned by the government has identified Shropshire Council's financial state as poor and has proposed 22 recommendations to address the issues, including the consideration of asset sales.
The review, conducted by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), was required as part of the Exceptional Financial Support awarded to the council.
The report highlights the need for further improvement, despite acknowledging the positive steps taken by the council in recent months, such as changes in leadership and the development of an Improvement Plan.
CIPFA's assessment covered various aspects of the council's financial health, including financial resilience, governance arrangements, capital programme, debt position, and service delivery.
Among the recommendations is the suggestion to sell assets, aimed at boosting financial sustainability.
While the report commends current improvement efforts, it emphasises the seriousness of the council’s financial position, noting historic challenges related to financial management, leadership, delivery of savings programmes, and organisational restructuring.
The council is set to address these issues through its Improvement Plan and Financial Sustainability and Recovery Strategy.
Councillor Heather Kidd, Leader of Shropshire Council, expressed her commitment to ongoing improvement:
“I am pleased that CIPFA has recognised the positive changes that have already been made and the commitment of both members and officers to driving improvement across the organisation.
“The report acknowledges that we have started to put in place the right foundations through our Improvement Plan, strengthened leadership and a renewed focus on capacity, capability and delivery.
“At the same time, we are under no illusion about the scale of the challenge we face. The report reflects many of the issues we already know about and reinforces the need to maintain momentum.
“We have made significant progress in a short space of time, but there is much more to do. We remain committed to delivering the improvements needed, strengthening our financial sustainability and ensuring that local people receive the services they rely upon in the years ahead.”
The full CIPFA report is available for viewing online.