Time runs out for Stoke as minister intervenes

摘要

Local government minister, John Healey, intervened at Stoke on Trent City Council, because members 'simply weren't able' to reform the town hall's 'damaged' political culture, he has told The MJ.But the council's interim chief executive, Chris Harman, believes Mr Healey's light-touch intervention will allow executives to continue to deliver service improvements, despite further political uncertainty caused by Whitehall's demand for council-wide elections in 2011. 'The proposals do not reduce [our] autonomy,' he added.