FROM the DAILY MAIL web site: accessed at 0838 GMT 20 April 2010
Town that couldn't run itself: Ministers step in over war between mayor and council
By CHRIS BROOKE
Last updated at 7:01 PM on 19th April 2010
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A town where public services are in meltdown because of a war between the elected mayor and left-wing Labour councillors is to be taken over by the Government.
Doncaster Council was branded 'failing and dysfunctional' by the official spending watchdog, which said it was not serving its people adequately and had no prospect of improving without urgent intervention.
The damning inquiry by the Audit Commission revealed that children were not being protected, the needs of the most vulnerable were not being met, schools were not good enough, crime was too high, public spaces were filthy and residents too unhealthy and unskilled to find new jobs.
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Doncaster Council was branded 'failing and dysfunctional' by the official spending watchdog
Mayor Peter Davies has been rendered 'largely powerless'
Labour councillors opposed to the elected mayoral system were blamed for the effective collapse of the South Yorkshire council which serves 291,000 people and has an annual budget of around £600million.
Councillors were described as 'venomous, vicious and vindictive' and responsible for widespread 'bullying and harassment' of officers.
They have stopped Peter Davies, the outspoken English Democrat elected as mayor last year on an anti-political correctness ticket, from doing his job in running the council by blocking key decisions and rendering him 'largely powerless', said the report, adding that councillors put their 'hatred of the mayor' above their 'love of the people'.
Mr Davies was in turn criticised for 'making things worse' by antagonising his Labour opponents.
The Audit Commission ordered a snap inspection of the council following public concern over a violent attack by two young brothers on two other children in Edlington, near Doncaster, and the deaths of seven children known to the town's children's services within three years.
Within minutes of the report's publication Communities Secretary John Denham (below) announced he was using these powers to 'intervene' in the South Yorkshire authority's affairs
Last year a Government hit squad was sent to run the failing children's services department, but the Audit Commission team concluded that Doncaster Council failed to meet minimum standards in most areas of its operation.
It urged the Government to consider taking over the council's functions using powers under the 1999 Local Government Act. Within minutes of the report's publication, Communities Secretary John Denham announced he was using these powers.
An emergency advisory board is being set up to take urgent decisions, provide leadership and support acting chief executive Jo Miller.
Mr Denham said he was actively considering 'appointing commissioners to take over some or all of the council's functions'.
He described the state of 'corporate paralysis' outlined in the Audit Commission report as 'absolutely unacceptable'.
Mr Davies refused to answer questions at a press conference yesterday, but issued a defiant statement indicating he would remain in charge.
He said: 'Doncaster has been broken for over 15 years and despite many good aspects to the town it has lurched from problem to problem.
'This is a watershed moment and we now have to work together, under my leadership as elected mayor, to make Doncaster a better place to live and work in with a council focused on serving its people rather than its own petty jealousies.'
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Pity the poor residents of Doncaster - the Government have managed to ruin the country - now they have local councils in their sights!!
- Nanny B,, Crawley West Sussex, 19/4/2010 18:59
Click to rate Rating 153 Report abuse
So Brown's failed Labour is to rescue a failing council
ARRRGGGHHH!!!
- roger, brighton, 19/4/2010 18:45
Click to rate Rating 169 Report abuse
Typical of labour politicians to disrupt things for their own benefit. They don't care about anybody else just their own. If they aren't in charge then they have to make everything a misery for everybody else. The mayor was elected to shake things up after decades of labour abuse of power. John Denham, what a cheek! On his basis of argument the government should be taken over
- mark, leeds, 19/4/2010 18:38
Click to rate Rating 202 Report abuse
I like the sound of Peter Davies but Doncaster is not the only city that is broke. There are many more and the only answer is to have a clearout of none job staff and i can tell you there are plenty and we their wage payers need value for our money which is something we have not had for a long time.
- BD, newcastle, 19/4/2010 18:34
Click to rate Rating 183 Report abuse
A failing and dysfunctional council being taken over by a failing and dysfunctional government.
Definite recipe for success.
- RW, Watford, Herts, 19/4/2010 18:17
Click to rate Rating 220 Report abuse
'Failing and dysfunctional' would be a good way to describe the Labour government, but they held on to power unlike Doncaster.
- A tax-payer, England as was, not EU, 19/4/2010 18:10
Click to rate Rating 179 Report abuse
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Tuesday, 20 April 2010
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