Cash-strapped council drafts in troubleshooter

New finance chief Steven Mair, pictured at Slough Borough Council, has experience working with councils facing effective bankruptcy

Bradford Council has drafted in a specialist to overhaul its finances as it tries to avoid going bust.

Steven Mair became the authority's interim director of finance last month.

He had previously been brought in by councils in Essex and Berkshire as they went through effective bankruptcy.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said officers were pleased he would "support us at this financially challenging time".

They said Mr Mair had "extensive experience of dealing with successful financial and change management projects across several local authorities".

'Wealth of experience'

The spokesperson said: "We are very pleased to welcome Steven to Bradford and are sure that he will bring his wealth of experience to the district and work with officers and members to support us at this financially challenging time and in developing a five-year plan to move to a more sustainable financial position."

Bradford Council has asked for £80m in government help this year, as well as £140m for 2024/25, to plug a growing black hole in its finances.

The cash would not be a bailout but would instead be borrowed, according to a report by Mr Mair which details "financial challenges on an unprecedented scale".

Mr Mair, who declined an interview with the BBC, had joined cash-strapped Slough Borough Council in 2021 after the previous incumbent resigned amid a damning auditors' report.

At the time, the authority said Mr Mair, a qualified accountant, had "considerable experience of radically transforming local authority finances".

However, he was unable to avoid its financial collapse and issued a Section 114 notice - effectively declaring the council bankrupt - within a few months.

A major cost-cutting drive followed, in which the authority even had to unplug the fridges at its headquarters.

In September 2023, Mr Mair was drafted in to another troubled authority, Thurrock Council in Essex, which had already declared effective bankruptcy after accruing more than £1bn in debt through failed investments in solar farms.

He was brought in by government-appointed commissioners.

The authority went on to reveal plans to sell £1bn of assets and investments.