Northamptonshire County Council appoint board to improve finances

An independent improvement board will be introduced at cash-strapped Northamptonshire County Council, to help improve its financial management.

It comes with the authority in financial crisis and the Government set to send in commissioners to run it.

The council was forced to ban all new spending in an attempt to balance its books during the same year.

Last month, a report an independent, government-commissioned report said the authority failed to manage its budget and that it needs to be split up into two unitary authorities.

The board would be made up of county council members and officers as well as representatives from the borough and district councils, stakeholders and external advisors, and would work alongside the commissioners.

It would continue to be in place until any new system of unitary governance is established in Northamptonshire, also recommended following the Inspection.