Damning report criticises failings at Derby City Council

A damning report by auditors Grant Thornton has criticised governance failings at Derby City Council, including the granting of taxi-driver licences to people with criminal records.

Among the concerns raised are -

• Councillors lobbying on taxi-drivers' behalf, leading to poor decisions on granting of licences to individuals who had committed offences such as hate crime, harassment and making improper comments to young women.

• Blurring of politicians and officers' roles.

• Mismanagement of equal pay job evaluation project cost the council an extra £1.2m.

• "Politically-motivated decision" around staff pay led to additional costs of £3m.

The report relates to the period 2011-2015 which pre-dates the current administration.

However, the council's chief executive Paul Robinson (seen in the video below) today publicly apologised to the people of Derby for the past failings. He also said the council had taken action to address the matters raised.

Grant Thornton meanwhile has acknowledged that the authority "understands that a more robust approach to governance is essential and is determined to sort out these issues."