has been given a £4.4 million government handout to cover the cost of hiring new staff to overhaul the "dysfunctional" organisation.
The grant, from the Department for Communities and Local Government, is a clear indication the Government is backing the council leadership's improvement plan, called the Future Council programme.
Bosses have had an axe over their heads after they were given 12 months to turn the local authority around in the Lord Bob Kerslake which called for dramatic changes.
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The report found the council lacked leadership capacity, having cut too many top expert staff, and it was resistant to making the changes needed to deal with government cuts.
In particular, it was found to be poor at sharing resources and working with partner organisations.
It also came at a time when the education and child protection services were under close government scrutiny following failures.
Council leader Sir Albert Bore and chief executive Mark Rogers have now been given a boost as they prepare reports for their public meeting with
Already the council is - including two £153,000-per-year strategic directors - and the new grant will go towards that.
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Council leader Sir Albert Bore said: "I am committed to delivering the improvements expected of us and I am pleased the government has agreed to provide funds that will give even more impetus to the achievement of ambitions in our future council.
"Whilst we are making progress, these extra funds will undoubtedly help us to accelerate the delivery of the changes in organisational governance and capability that are required.
"It is encouraging the DCLG has acknowledged this is something we were not able to do wholly within the council's own limited resources and it has endorsed our plans to modernise and create a council that is both fit and sustainable for the future."
Specifically, the funding will help the council deliver on its medium-term plan by being used to fund additional staff to ensure regular council business can continue as usual and provide specialist know-how to speed up existing improvement projects.