Cabinet welcomes independent review praising Lib Dem-run Shropshire Council

Shropshire Council’s Cabinet has welcomed an independent review that praises the progress being made since the Liberal Democrats took control of the council in May 2025. 

The Local Government Association’s Corporate Peer Challenge progress review highlights a much stronger grip on the council’s finances, improved budget monitoring, clearer governance and a renewed pace of change. 

The findings are independent recognition that the Liberal Democrat plan to rebuild the council is working, after years of Conservative mismanagement left the authority facing a financial emergency with a budget described as ‘catastrophic’ by an expert in council finances.

 The review says that ‘the council’s trajectory is positive’ and that it ‘feels like a very different organisation’ compared to 2025. It praises the new era of ‘more open, visible and connected leadership’ under the Liberal Democrats. 

The review also recognises tougher financial controls, transformed budget monitoring, strengthened governance, improved accountability and how the Liberal Democrats have put financial discipline at the heart of decision-making. 

Councillor Alex Wagner, Deputy Leader of Shropshire Council and Cabinet Member for Financial Improvement, commented: “This report is independent recognition that our plan to rebuild Shropshire Council is working. 

“We inherited a council whose finances had been trashed by years of Conservative mismanagement. Financial discipline had broken down, governance was too weak and difficult decisions had been ducked for far too long. 

“From day one, Shropshire’s Liberal Democrats have had a clear plan to restore financial rigour, strengthen governance, grip spending, rebuild confidence and put the council back on a financially viable footing. There is still a long road ahead, but we are making real progress. 

“The political contrast is clear. The Conservatives created this crisis. Reform opposes many difficult decisions that must be made to restore financial common sense and have no credible plan to fix the council. 

“Only the Liberal Democrats have a serious plan to rebuild Shropshire Council, and it is starting to work.”

PHOTO: Councillor Heather Kidd, Leader of Shropshire Council and Deputy Leader Councillor Alex Wagner.