Exclusive: Crisis-hit council's leadership 'disarray'

An assessment compiled by its most senior officers reveals they have been pressured to change or even avoid giving professional advice on important issues and the elected mayor and some members of his Cabinet are apparently disregarding the council's code of conduct.

The document, provided to Audit Commission inspectors as part of a self-assessment process, was drawn up by acting chief executive Tim Leader and other senior directors. It depicts a dysfunctional council fractured by political infighting, a failing mayoral system and disorganised leadership.

Its contents underscore the splits within the authority after a week in which councillors passed a vote of no confidence in English Democrat mayor Peter Davies and blocked his proposals to cut council tax by three per cent.

The Audit Commission ordered a snap inspection in the wake of the well-publicised Edlington child torture attack. The watchdog said the inspection was prompted by serious concerns about the council's performance and "a threat to public confidence".

The self-assessment twice refers to potential support from "Government Office" but the council declined to say whether the authority assumed there would be further intervention. Whitehall officials are already overseeing the management of children's services.

The document highlights a breakdown in relationships between the mayor and his Cabinet and senior officers.

It says: "Relations between executive members and officers, especially chief officers and other senior officers, are...difficult, notably when advice is proffered on the substance or procedural issues associated with the executive's proposals. Officers sometimes come under intense pressure to change their professional advice."

It adds: "In recent months there have been instances of officers being subject to strong pressures to change or not give professional advice on important and sensitive matters. In other cases advice that has been given in good faith has been poorly received and ignored... undermining trust and confidence between members and officers."

Elsewhere it points to the mayor and Cabinet members "blurring" constitutional rules by delivering instructions directly to middle ranking or even junior officers, with senior officers bypassed.

The document also says: "There is generally a very poor working relationship between the mayor and the full council, which has been a feature of the mayoral system in Doncaster for several years."

Acting chief executive Mr Leader declined to comment other than to express "extreme disappointment" that the report had been leaked.

Mayor Davies said: "This is the chief executive's assessment. It was not shared with me or Cabinet members in advance and it was meant to be confidential.

"We are all waiting to see what the inspectors say.

"I have said all along that there are lots of things wrong in Doncaster, and we have to work together for the good of the townspeople. I am not going to comment further on a document that shouldn't have been released in the first place."

The Audit Commission is expected to make its recommendations next month.