Bankrupt council oversight could run to late 2029

Government intervention at a council suffering from a "sense of general helplessness and fatigue" is set to continue for another three years.

Slough Borough Council has been supported by government-appointed commissioners since December 2021 and the arrangement was due to continue until November.

But local government minister Jim McMahon said he is minded to extend that until November 2029 because of its ongoing issues outlined in a review published on Thursday.

The council was approached to comment.

It was effectively declared bankrupt in 2021 after racking up a £760m borrowing debt and a £357m deficit.

The government-commissioned review into the authority found some in the council feel an "ongoing sense of failure" following years of turmoil.

It said the borough "has the ingredients to be able to punch above its weight" and that there is now "a much clearer acknowledgement amongst members and officers" over its problems.

But the size of the task "can seem so overwhelming that no progress is made", the review found.

It was led by Dame Mary Ney, the former chief executive of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and Will Godfrey, who was most recently Bath & North East Somerset Council's CEO.

They said next May's elections could be a point of "significant risk" for the authority, with many senior and long-serving councillors expected to step down.

They said "momentum and focus may falter for a period" but that it could also be an opportunity "to reinforce strong political leadership".

McMahon told the council that despite some progress, recovery in it is "slow and fragile".

He said four commissioners should remain to help with financial management and governance. One of those would be dedicated to improving its children's services and provision for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

In August, Ofsted said there were "widespread and serious weaknesses" in the council-owned Slough Children First, which provides children's social care services.

In November 2025, the council was told to address widespread failures in its SEND services.

McMahon has asked the authority to address his proposals by 28 October.