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Peterborough City Council was one of a small number of local authorities to request exceptional financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government agreed in principle to this request subject to the outcome of an external assurance review.

On 30 June the Secretary of State announced an external assurance review of Peterborough City Council鈥檚 financial position and the strength of its wider governance arrangements. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) led on the financial aspects of the review. Andrew Flockhart, former Chief Executive of Poole Borough Council from April 2014 to his retirement in March 2019 where he led the council through the Dorset/Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitarisation, led on governance.鈥�

CIPFA鈥檚 financial review and Andrew Flockhart鈥檚 governance review set out detailed findings, including conclusions, evidence and methodology used, and include recommendations for the future.

Ministerial response to the review

On 2 November 2021, the former Minister of State for Equalities and Levelling Up Communities, Kemi Badenoch MP, set out in a letter to the Leader of Peterborough City Council, her expectations for improvement.

Ministerial response to the withdrawal of the panel聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽

On 15 May 2025, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon OBE MP, wrote to the Leader of Peterborough City Council, acknowledging that the Independent Improvement Panel has now withdrawn.

The Minister noted the progress the Council has made over the last 3 years with the support of the Independent Improvement and Assurance Panel. In particular, the willingness to continuously improve, the strengthened governance arrangements, and the collaborative culture between members and officers. Whilst risks remain relating to financial sustainability, the foundations are in place to support the necessary reform.