Mayor’s anger over bill for
trading standards fraud

looking at a £3m share,” said Mr Davies.

“That is where I get rather angry. Since Doncaster Council was not responsible for the affair, did not employ the individual concerned and had no way of checking what his actions and movements were, the responsibility lies with Sheffield.

“As far as I am concerned, it illustrates the perils of entering into agreements with South Yorkshire’s other councils, and has parallels with Digital Region which looks like leaving Doncaster with a bill of £7m to £9m for another ill-thought out farrago.

“Most people would never have got involved in this in the first place. My approach to life is to ask would I put my own money into these schemes and in both these cases the answer is a simple and resounding no.

“What’s annoying me at the moment is that officers of this council are negotiating a deal with Sheffield which will leave Doncaster’s council tax payers with a bill. Our response should actually be to tell them to clear off and sort out their own affairs.”

It is understood Sheffield Council has issued Doncaster with the £3m bill, and sent invoices for similar amounts to Rotherham and Barnsley, while agreeing to pay around £6m of the costs itself.

Barnsley Council refused to comment on the situation, while a spokesman for Rotherham Council said “negotiations are ongoing”.

A Sheffield Council spokesman said: “Negotiations with other councils are continuing and they are at an advanced stage. We wouldn’t wish to comment further than this at the moment.”