Solace blog

“A members’ survey by the senior local government officers’ group Solace revealed an even split on the question of whether current assurance arrangements for local government were sufficient.

With the emergence of the Office for Local Government (Oflog) watchdog being hailed by ministers as the solution to council assurance, 45% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that current arrangements were already sufficient while another 45% disagreed or strongly disagreed.

As council chiefs gather in Birmingham for Solace’s annual summit this week, the survey exposed the difference of opinion within the sector on Government plans to provide certainty over local authority health.

Despite the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) intending the watchdog to identify other councils at risk after a string of local authority financial failures – most recently Birmingham City Council – senior officers were unconvinced it will succeed…”

Click here to read the full article by Paul Marinko, with comments from Graeme McDonald, Solace managing director, in the MJ.