Government intervenes at Doncaster after damning Audit Commission report into “failing” council

The government is to intervene in the running of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council after a Audit Commission inspection into its corporate governance found it to be failing due to a “deep seated” culture of poor governance.

Doncaster is one of only 12 councils in England and Wales to be led by a directly-elected mayor. The Audit Commission report said that the problems were being caused by the Council attempting to frustrate the Mayor and Cabinet, a lack of effective leadership by the Mayor and Cabinet and a lack of leadership displayed some of its chief officers and their inability to work together in an effective manner.

The report added that the people of Doncaster were "not well-served" by the council because "the desire to pursue long-standing political antagonisms is being given priority over much-needed improvements to services for the public".

The main failings identified by the Audit Commission included:

• The Council, and key councillors within it not working constructively with the Mayor or with partners to achieve better outcomes for the people of Doncaster and some influential councillors placing their antagonism towards the Mayor and Mayoral system above the needs of the people of Doncaster, and their duty to lead the continuous improvement of services.
• The mis-use of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's powers to undermine the mayor and develop its own policies rather than to constructively help him to develop his policies.
• Slowness in the decision-making process.
• The recruitment process which led to the appointment of the (now former) interim chief executive In January this year, which took place against external legal advice, failed to meet corporate governance standards. When in office, the interim chief executive (who has previously been the council's Director of Resources and Monitoring Officer) failed to display the impartiality expected of the role.
• The Mayor does not always act in a way which demonstrates an understanding of the need for an elected Mayor to lead his authority and represent all the people in Doncaster.
• Officers failing to act corporately and struggling to provide leadership or work as team. The report noted that some have become used to the dysfunctional politics of the Council, and no longer seek to maintain proper boundaries between the respective roles of officers and councillors.

The report concluded that the council was failing in its duty under s.3 of the Local Government Act 1999 (the duty to make arrangements for continuous improvement) and that the council – including the Mayor, Cabinet and some of the officers - did not have the capacity or capability to make the necessary improvements required. The Audit Commission recommended that the government intervene to ensure that:

• the behaviour of the Mayor and some key councillors is no longer allowed to obstruct the proper governance of the council;
• the role of the Mayor and Cabinet as the Executive is properly supported by officers, and the Overview and Scrutiny function ceases to operate as if it were an alternative Executive function;
• bullying and intimidating behaviour is eliminated;
• there is a rapid improvement in the performance of key services;
• the Council plays an effective role in working with external partners to improve the prospects for the people of Doncaster;
• a high calibre Chief Executive who commands the respect of the Mayor and the Council is in place; and
• under the leadership of a new Chief Executive, the chief officers work collectively to deliver service improvement.

Following the publication of the report, The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Denham, said that he was considering what intervention he would take. He said: "From the outset, I have made it clear that I would take whatever action was necessary to look after the best interests of local people. I can make it clear today that I will use my statutory powers to intervene.

"The Audit Commission's report on Doncaster Council shows the severity of the problems in the local authority across the board and concludes that the local authority is failing the people of Doncaster, not just on one service or issue but the very way it operates. This is absolutely unacceptable."

In response to the report, Peter Davies, Mayor of Doncaster said: "I see the report as broadly right, although I don't agree with all of the detail. Many of the problems at the Council were embedded before I arrived and I see this as time to draw a line in the sand and move forward for the good of the Council and the people we serve and I am confident we can do this. The report speaks for itself.

"My Cabinet and I are committed to turning the Council around with the support of strong leadership, and Members who are willing to work together so that the Council can improve. I will continue to lead Doncaster Council to a better future."


A copy of the report can be found by clicking here.