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A city mayor has turned independent in the wake of two highly-critical reports by the district auditor. Doncaster's elected mayor, Martin Winter, has abandoned the Labour group and set up a breakaway Independent Labour cabinet, after a public interest report by district auditor, John Prentice, highlighted ‘weak governance' at the metropolitan borough. The report expressed concern at continued ‘deterioration in relationships bet-ween the mayor and key councillors.' Evoking memories of the well-publicised allegations of fraud and junketing which rocked the council in the late 1990s, Mr Prentice concluded: ‘The people of Doncaster expect and are entitled to receive the highest standards of governance, but the council has failed to achieve those standards… the actions of a few members and officers, including the former managing director, fell short of those standards.' Mr Prentice's public interest investigation was prompted by a request from current managing director, Paul Hart, into the breakdown of relations between the mayor and former managing director, Susan Law, who left the council in February 2007 with a payoff of £120,000. Mr Winter was unavailable for comment but, in his second report, the annual audit and inspection letter, Mr Prentice has warned: ‘Weaknesses in behaviour by some councillors and in adherence to governance structures and arrangement are hampering the council's ability to operate effectively and deliver the further service requirements required.' The district auditor has now urged Mr Hart to lead by example and streamline and reform governance structures within the council, and warned that ‘existing tensions between the mayor and key councillors continue to hamper the effectiveness of the council.'

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WHITEHALL

Critical report engulfs Doncaster mayor

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