Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council has published the findings of an internal report into alleged financial and planning irregularities committed by members of its ruling Labour party.
Announcing the findings, council leader Malcolm Glover said: “The inquiry has revealed shortcomings in a number of areas and it is now up to both members and officers to ensure the report’s findings are acted upon.”
The report makes a series of recommendations designed to improve standards and procedures, including three relating to planning issues:
- The introduction of a mandatory training programme for all members on planning law, procedure and the decision-making process.
- The adoption of clear rules and guidelines to be reviewed on a regular basis in relation to planning site visits.
- The introduction of procedures for the conduct of site visits by committees and sub-committees.
The measures will be considered by the authority’s policy committee on September 22.
The internal investigation was launched in May after a district auditor criticised councillors for taking expensive foreign trips and accepting gifts. It was widened to include planning issues in July following accusations of irregularities in this area.
Five councillors, including leader Peter Welsh, deputy leader Ray Stockhill and planning committee chairman Peter Birks, were suspended along with the council’s director of planning David Ellis and his deputy Graham Raynor.
The councillors failed to declare interests when backing plans for housing developments in the borough, including the fact that two of them were close friends with some of the sites’ developers, local landowner Alan Hughes and Tony Phillips, director of Moorfield Developments.
A council spokesman said the report did not say whether planning irregularities had taken place. A full district auditors report, which will investigate planning issues, is expected by the end of the year. South Yorkshire police is continuing its investigation into the alleged irregularities.
Responding to the council’s report, Detective Superintendent Graham Johnson said: ” [We] have worked closely with the internal inquiry team….. their recommendations should help to prevent future malpractice and I support the work they have done.” The police investigation continues.
The five councillors and two officers will remain suspended until the investigation is completed. In the meantime, the authority is to produce further reports on a number of issues covered in the investigation, including planning matters.
Egi News 02/09/97
