Report shows ‘a cultural failure of epic proportions’
The leader of the Royal Borough has admitted a damning report on the council's financial record demonstrates a ‘cultural failure of epic proportions’.
The leader of the council has admitted a damning report on the borough’s financial management record demonstrates a ‘cultural failure of epic propor tions’.
At a virtual cabinet meeting last week, councillors discussed a heavily-critical Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) report which followed a review of council governance undertaken in 2019 and early 2020.
In a strongly worded criticism of previous administrations, Cllr Andrew Johnson told cabinet members ‘it is not a legacy I can, nor will defend as leader of this council’.
But opposition members have said they ‘see words but no actions’ and that an ‘apology is worthless’ unless changes are made.
The CIPFA report found there had been a lack of financial transparency and financial planning over a number of years, and a ‘poor officer culture and lack of physical capacity and capability coupled with dominant members’.
It also identified a series of issues, including little differentiation between officer and senior member roles, issues with financial governance and concerns over the council’s medium-term financial strateg y.
Addressing the findings at the meeting on Thursday, June 25, Cllr Johnson (Con, Hurley and Walthams) said: “It was in fact a cultural failure of epic proportions. The allegations of undue pressure, circumvented process, closing down or indeed blocking those that raised genuine concerns, created a toxic culture which spread throughout the organisation.”
Cllr Johnson took over leadership of the council following Simon Dudley’s sudden resignation in September.
The report indicated that while changes had been made to address some critical issues, an action plan should be prepared to address all of the issues.
During his speech, Cllr Johnson apologised to councillors who ‘were silenced’ when they attempted to raise concerns in the past. He added: “I believe in creating a culture that is fair, one that is open and one that is transparent.”
Cllr David Hilton (Con, Ascot and Sunninghill) lead member for finance, supported the internal investigation by CIPFA into the council’s financial governance.
He said the report has made cabinet ‘face up to a series of uncomfortable truths about how the organisation was previously run'.
Speaking after the meeting, leader of the local independents, Cllr Lynne Jones (OWRA, Old
Windsor), said: “You’ve got to take action and not just say what they’re going to do. We’ve had too much of that.
“Apologies are all very well but unless you actually want to make change and put the effort into making change then the apology is worthless.”
She added: “We can’t put all the blame on one person because cabinet voted for it and facilitated it.”
Cllr Simon Werner, leader of the Liberal Democrats (Pinkneys Green), said: “Sadly they are a very long way from sorting it out.”
He added: “We have cabinet members who stayed the course with Simon Dudley and voted for
Simon Dudley to continue leading us.”
Echoing the views of Cllr Jones he said ‘I see words but no actions.’
“It is being made more difficult to raise concerns,” he added.
Addressing these issues, Cllr Johnson said: “I look forward to receiving these recommendations (from CIPFA), discussing at cabinet and hopefully agreeing with many of them because like Cllr Jones and Cllr Werner I do take scrutiny very seriously.
“I look forward to some genuinely positive suggestions about how we can improve the process with internal governance and culture.”
Following the meeting, former council leader Simon Dudley declined a request for comment on the report and Cllr Johnson's speech.