Scandal council in fresh turmoil as chief quits

Paul Hart, the chief officer at Doncaster Council, will leave office tomorrow only three days after his desire to leave was communicated to political group leaders on the authority.

The Government is intervening in the council's management of children's services after the deaths of seven youngsters on the at-risk register, and news of Mr Hart's departure coincides with an unannounced inspection by Ofsted which took place on Tuesday and yesterday.

The inspection is mandatory as part of a programme introduced by the Government for all councils in the wake of the Baby P case but it is understood Mr Hart's decision to go is not directly linked to the latest Ofsted involvement.

Running the council has become highly pressurised in the wake of the child care scandal, and last year's election of English Democrat Peter Davies as mayor, with an outspoken anti-political correctness agenda, has only increased the spotlight on the authority.

But a formal statement issued by the council last night only cited "personal reasons" for the managing director's departure, with no further elaboration.

Mr Hart 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."

Mr Davies said: "I have the utmost respect for Paul and I have seen for myself the huge amount of dedication and commitment he gives to the council. I am sorry to see him leave but I fully understand his reasons and I wish Paul the very best."

Labour group leader Joe Blackham said he was told of Mr Hart's desire to go on Tuesday and he had no objections so long as he did not receive a golden handshake. Mr Hart's predecessor, Susan Law, walked away with a 120,000 pay-off in 2007 following a breakdown in relations with the then mayor, Martin Winter.

But last night the council confirmed Mr Hart will not receive any payments though he will be entitled to access his pensions fund. The departure has been rushed through so quickly that no notice period is being worked and Mr Hart's last day in office is tomorrow.

Talks are under way over an interim appointment and it is likely a temporary managing director will be ratified by a meeting of the full council on Monday.

The sudden circumstances of Mr Hart's departure have thrown the management of a beleaguered council into more confusion with councillors concerned further government intervention may be in the offing.

Independent Alliance leader Garth Oxby said: "We are like a ship foundering in heavy seas and we are not making headway. I don't see any political leadership to get us out of this – the situation needs addressing very quickly."

Liberal Democrat leader Paul Coddington described the upheaval as worrying. "It comes at a time when we are trying to move Doncaster forward and I don't think this will."

The outcome of the Ofsted inspection is likely to be published next month when the council is also set to approve the creation of a new Children's Board which will report to ministers.