Intervention at Woking Borough Council
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-03)

This page collates all the publications relating to the External Assurance Review carried out into Woking Borough Council and the subsequent intervention.

In January 2023 the department commissioned an External Assurance Review covering Woking Borough Council’s governance, finance and commercial issues, following concerns raised from engagement with the council since May 2022. This review was carried out by Jim Taylor, Carol Culley OBE and Mervyn Greer, with initial fieldwork taking place over January and February. The review team was asked to provide an external assessment of the Council’s governance arrangements, financial situation, commercial investments and their capacity and capability to manage these in the immediate and longer-term.

The Council made the department aware of further developments in their commercial and finance arrangements in April 2023, following which the department requested that the review team undertake further fieldwork in April and May. The resulting report reflects all review work undertaken from January to May 2023.

After careful consideration of the report and Woking’s engagement with the department, the Secretary of State was not satisfied that the pace or scale of the council’s response was proportionate to the issues it faces and decided that Woking Borough Council requires immediate urgent government action. On 25 May 2023 (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-05-25/hcws813) he decided that he was using his powers under the Local Government Act 1999 to intervene at the council and appointed the review team as Commissioners.

The department also wrote to the council on 25 May 2023, to provide detail on the intervention package, and published the External Assurance Review.

On 19 October 2023, the department published the first report from the Commissioners (received 31 August), the progress update from the council and Minister Rowley’s response to the Commissioners. In their report, the Commissioners describe the gravity of the situation in Woking and the scale of the challenge the council faces. In his response, Minister Rowley thanked the Commissioners for their hard work and dedication and recognised the tough decisions ahead for the council.

On 13 December 2023 Minister Hoare announced to Parliament that he was publishing the second report from the Commissioners (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-12-13/hcws121), which provides an update on the progress of the intervention, and that appointments were being made to the Commissioner team to provide additional capability and capacity, with Richard Carr as Managing Director Commissioner and Sir Tony Redmond as Lead Commissioner, replacing Jim Taylor.

On 20 November 2024, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon OBE MP, announced the publication of the Woking Borough Council Commissioners‘ third report alongside his ministerial response in a written ministerial statement (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-11-20/hcws235).

The report covers Commissioners’ actions from December 2023 to May 2024, and their priorities for the next 6 months up to November 2024. Commissioners report that Woking still faces significant challenges in its recovery, particularly regarding its financial position, but the Council remains committed to working with Commissioners to deliver fundamental change through its Improvement and Recovery Plan.

The ministerial response notes the scale of the challenge facing Woking and thanks the Commissioners for their dedication in overseeing Woking’s improvement to date.

On 6 March 2025, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, announced the publication of the Commissioners’ fourth report, alongside her ministerial response in a written ministerial statement (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-03-06/hcws504).

The report covers Commissioners’ actions from May to December 2024, and their priorities for the next 6 months. Commissioners outline encouraging progress from the starting point of very significant failings, but substantial capacity issues constrain the pace of change.

In her response, the Minister is reassured by Commissioners’ comments that the Council is committed to achieving the objectives that the Council have worked with Commissioners to set, which will radically overhaul the operation of the Council.

On 15 April 2025, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, confirmed the appointment of Barry Scarr as the Finance Commissioner at Woking Council, following Carol Culley having stepped down in March.

On 28 October 2025, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP, confirmed his decision to implement a proposal for 2 unitary councils in Surrey. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the area of Woking Borough Council will be within the new West Surrey Council. The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern MP, wrote to Spelthorne Commissioners to clarify their role in this next stage of local government reorganisation.