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THREAD: Auditor Grant Thornton has issued a rare 'public interest report' into the crisis at Croydon Council.
It's an indictment of serious financial mismanagement, and a microcosm of the risks, highlighted by @TBIJ's work, taken by an increasing no. of local authorities
It's an indictment of serious financial mismanagement, and a microcosm of the risks, highlighted by @TBIJ's work, taken by an increasing no. of local authorities
For those not aware, Croydon Council is on the verge of financial collapse. It faces a budget gap of £65m, far in excess of its reserves. As such it was hopelessly ill-prepared for Covid-19 and the council has, in effect, sought a bailout from @mhclg
Grant Thornton first raised the alarm about the council's financial position (specifically the rate at which it was burning through reserves) in 17/18. It did so again, in worsening terms, in 18/19 and 19/20.
These warnings were effectively ignored, the report says.
These warnings were effectively ignored, the report says.
Nine months ago I got in touch with @bureaulocal with an idea to map everything councils have sold off under austerity
@bureaulocal After hundreds of FOI requests and hours of work, we are launching #SoldFromUnderYou, an investigation by me, @emmayoule, @cboutaud and @Gareth_Davies09 that reveals for the first time the scale of what has been lost to local councils under austerity
@bureaulocal @emmayoule @cboutaud @Gareth_Davies09 I've been blown away by the skill of @Gareth_Davies09, who taught me so much about how to work with data, and the amazing @bureaulocal and their network. We're lucky to have them holding truth to power in the UK.
Today, in partnership with @HuffPostUK, we reveal the scale to which cash-strapped councils across England are selling off public buildings and spaces to make ends meet - and sometimes even using the money to make staff redundant
thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2019-0…
#SoldFromUnderYou
thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2019-0…
#SoldFromUnderYou
Since 2010, local authorities have lost around 60% of funding in the name of austerity, leaving services shut and buildings closed #SoldFromUnderYou
A 2016 Government ruling allowed councils desperate for cash to sell off public assets - such as community centres, libraries, playgrounds, youth clubs & health clinics - but only if proceeds were spent on measures to save councils money in the future #SoldFromUnderYou
