Cllr Strutton News Today

IT WILL soon be decision time for residents; do they want to stick with the status quo, or do they want Slough Borough Council controlled by a…

FREE charging points for electric vehicles in a council car park – now fenced off for being wrongly used by residents as energy costs soar –…

THE former leader of the Slough Conservatives has resigned and will stand as an independent at this year’s election.

Labour-led Slough Borough Council bought the large array of indoor plants for its £41million Observatory House headquarters when it moved in 2019. It spent £28,000 on them but they are now "dying" because of a £760m borrowing debt which forced them to terminate a contract for watering them, council leader James Swindlehurst said. Mr Swindlehurst

AN ANGRY spat over the council’s alleged £50k spend on ‘dying’ plants and who waters them ensued at a fiery meeting.

A LONG-SERVING councillor has taken the reins as leader of the opposing Slough Conservatives after the former chief announced he is stepping down.

LABOUR councillors “believe” James Swindlehurst will lead Slough out of its dire financial situation – despite strong calls for him to resign.

Slough council leader grilled by opposition over damning audit reports James Bagley. Local Democracy Reporter 03:12PM, Monday 24 May 2021 ); Tory councillor Wayne Strutton (left) and council leader James Swindlehurst Sloughs council leader faced a grilling from the opposition about the two damning audit reports at an extraordinary meeting. Councillor James Swindlehurst (Lab, Cippenham Green), leader, was faced with tough questions from the opposing Conservatives and Independents following the ...

at an extraordinary meeting. Councillor James Swindlehurst (Lab: Cippenham Green), leader, was faced with tough questions from the opposing Conservatives and Independents following the highly critical papers of the local authority’s financial governance. In the external auditor’s reports, Grant Thornton UK LLP found: insufficient capacity and skills within the finance department inadequate preparation of financial statements inadequate general and earmarked revenue reserves inadequate g...

didn’t step in, the leader said. Last week, the Observer reported the council was in talks with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to seek permission for a ‘capitalisation directive’ – effectively giving them greater flexibility to use capital funds for day-to-day services. This could mean Slough Borough Council (SBC) may need to sell off some its £100 million-worth of assets in order to fill that £10 million gap in their 2021/22 budget caused by Covid-19 p...