Sarah Champion MP Reacts to Return of Powers to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Sarah Champion MP, Member of Parliament for Rotherham, has welcomed the announcement that full authority is planned to be returned to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire, has issued new directions to RMBC. The directions will, following consultation, lead to the withdrawal of the team of commissioners who have over seen the Council since 2015 and follows a recent recommendation from the commissioners themselves that they be withdrawn. The government intervention in Rotherham began in 2015, following severe criticism of the Council in the Jay and Casey reports.

Reacting to the news, Sarah said:

“I am delighted that the Secretary of State has decided that sufficient progress has been made by the Council to allow it to continue to rebuild without direct government intervention. The past failures at RMBC were appalling, but the Council has made huge strides and is unrecognisable from 2015.’

‘Today’s announcement is a testament to the hard work of councillors, the senior leadership team and all the staff.  The announcement represents a massive vote of confidence in their progress to date.”

Commenting on the future for the Council, Sarah said:

“While significant progress has been made, we have to be realistic and acknowledge that there is still some way to go to deliver the Council the people of Rotherham deserve and to restore public trust.’

‘I have every confidence that Rotherham will continue improving and will deliver a strong, democratic and effective local authority.”