THE leader of the opposing Conservatives has called for full elections next year so residents can “slate” councillors over the financial crisis.

Councillors convened at a full council meeting on Thursday, July 23, to hear and endorse the local authority’s new chief financial officer’s findings in the organisation’s finances.

Slough Borough Council was forced to issue a section 114 notice earlier this month, which led to all non-essential spending being frozen, after facing a £174m black hole in their finances if urgent action is not taken.

At the end of the section 114 agenda item, councillor Wayne Strutton (Haymill and Lynch Hill), leader of the Conservatives, said the council is in a position where they “have to accept” the findings and get on with hard work to bail the borough out of the financial crisis.

READ MORE: Slough leader survives motion of no confidence

He also urged members to acknowledge how “deeply sorry” they are that the town got into this state and called for an all-around election next year to give residents the chance to “slate” every councillor.

Cllr Strutton said: “I think this whole chamber, including all of those who were elected this year, need to consider or resigning by the end of this political year and give this town an opportunity to slate every single one of us again in May.

“Not just the third, but everyone.

“And in doing so, we will actually add some savings to the budget by saving somewhere in the region of half a million [pounds] every four-year cycle.”

READ MORE: Slough Council will sell more properties to plug financial hole

This would also give residents the opportunity to vote with the knowledge of the council’s financial position as the external auditor’s two damning reports in their 2018/19 was published a few days after this year’s election.

However, the leader of the Labour-run council, councillor James Swindlehurst (Cippenham Green) said there is a working party looking at the electoral timetable and will be set up subject to approval of council.

Slough usually elects a third of their councillors instead of the full whammy on a four-year period.