Government takes over running of scandal-hit Doncaster Council

THE Government has taken control of Doncaster Council in a bid to end years of dysfunctional management that has seen the authority scarred by numerous scandals.

The scale of poor governance was revealed in a damning Audit Commission report that the watchdog described as the worst it has produced into a council in 30-years.

Today Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced a package of intensive measures to turn the council around.

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Draft proposals include the appointment of new chief executive and a team of commissioners to provide leadership and support to make radical improvements.

Mr Pickles said: "After 15 years of failure Doncaster people need to be properly served by their council.

"The dysfunctional politics, poor services and ineffective leadership, identified by the Audit Commission, all must be addressed.

"All parties have agreed that intervention is needed and the package of measures we're announcing today will ensure that Doncaster gets the proper leadership and expertise that is urgently required for turning this situation around."

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The Council now have time to discuss and agree the proposals before a final statutory order is introduced in two weeks.

The Government expects the intervention programmes to be publicly available so people can see for themselves what improvements are being made.

The measures include a team of commissioners with powers to appoint, discipline or dismiss officers and ensure council decision makers do not fail to act or act against the advice of their statutory officers.

There will be a non-executive Intervention and Recovery Board to support, challenge and monitor progress delivery, alongside the Commissioners, reporting to the Secretary of State as necessary.

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The authority will also have a new chief executive, with the boss at Kirklees Council Rob Vincent starting in July.

Mr Vincent said: "I know that it is a place with a great history, some current strengths, and good prospects.

"It has had many problems over a number of years, and there will be difficulties in finding a confident way forward.

"But it is clear that many individuals, officers and politicians, remain highly committed and motivated to achieve the best for local people."

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The Audit Commission report cited the council's shocking history as key to the problems, with numerous scandals such as the "Donnygate" corruption case during the 1990's which resulted in 21 councillors being convicted and the Edlington child torture case, which itself followed the deaths of seven vulnerable children known to the authority's children's services.

A statement from Doncaster Council said the authority would continue to put forward suggestions during the three-week consultation process.

Peter Davies, mayor of Doncaster, said in the statement: "We note the draft directions and welcome much of what they say.

"During the three-week consultation period, we will continue to make representations to the Government for the benefit of Doncaster."

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Since the start of this year the council has had a number of chief executives.

Paul Hart, who worked for the council for a total of nearly seven years, resigned his chief executive position in January, just one week before the Edlington case sentencing.

In a statement released on January 15, the date his resignation came into effect, he said: "I have been part of Doncaster Council for six and a half years and have worked through some really tough times and have also been part of some great achievements and successes.

"I am stepping down for personal reasons. Doncaster has great potential and great people that I have been privileged to work with. I thank them for their continuing hard work and wish them all the best in the challenges that lay ahead."

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A spokeswoman for the council said today that Mr Hart was not given a pay-off on his departure.

Tim Leader followed Mr Hart to the role, but only remained there for two months following a fall-out with the town's mayor.

Mr Davies openly questioned the validity of the appointment and urged Mr Leader to quit, which he eventually did in April.

Mr Vincent will now replace Jo Miller, who was drafted in from her role as deputy chief executive of the Local Government Association (LGA) after Mr Leader left.

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Following the Audit Commission report in April, Ms Miller said her role was to try to better serve the residents of Doncaster.

"This report paints a very poor picture of Doncaster Council and it is clear that the council has not served its residents as well as it should have," Ms Miller said at the time.

"That is not to say that it is all bad, as there are many good things happening in Doncaster, but we must be committed to raising the standards of governance in Doncaster and improving the council for the good of the borough."

The Doncaster Council spokeswoman said Ms Miller was never intended to be permanent and it is thought she will not remain with the council once the consultation period is over and Mr Vincent steps in.

More details in Thursday's Yorkshire Post