Government announces intervention measures at Doncaster

A board of commissioners with powers to hire and fire senior officers will be imposed on troubled Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles has said.

He has also named a new chief executive and will appoint an Intervention and Recovery Board to oversee progress.

These highly unusual steps followed a damning report on the council’s problems issued by the Audit Commission in April. That highlighted a breakdown in relations between elected mayor Peter Davies of the English Democrats, and councillors of other parties, but said these fraught relationships had hampered the council under his Labour predecessor Martin Winter.

It also pointed to failing services, poor decision-making and au under-performing local economy.

Pickles said: “After 15 years of failure Doncaster people need to be properly served by their council. The dysfunctional politics, poor services and ineffective leadership, identified by the Audit Commission, all must be addressed. All parties have agreed that intervention is needed and the package of measures we’re announcing today will ensure that Doncaster gets the proper leadership and expertise that is urgently required for turning this situation around.”

The commissioners, yet to be named but described by the Department for Communities and Local Government as “well respected”, will have powers to “appoint, discipline or dismiss officers and ensure council decision makers do not fail to act or act against the advice of their statutory officers”.

An Intervention and Recovery Board will support and monitor progress with the commissioners, and report to Pickles.

Rob Vincent, at present chief executive of Kirklees Metropolitan Council, will be Doncaster’s new chief executive. He takes over from interim appointee Jo Miller, who was seconded there by the Local Government Association after the departure of the previous chief executive Tim Leader after only a few months in office.

Vincent said: “I am looking forward to committing myself to helping Doncaster re-find its stride and make the progress that all who know the town are looking for. It has had many problems over a number of years, and there will be difficulties in finding a confident way forward.  But it is clear that many individuals, officers and politicians, remain highly committed and motivated to achieve the best for local people.”