THE city council spent more than £5,000 on legal advice to block attempts to see a draft report which is highly critical of the authority and Labour leader Coun Jon Collins.

The Evening Post revealed yesterday Nottingham City Council paid almost £30,000 of public money for the document, which was never circulated to officers or councillors.

The draft report is believed to raise significant criticisms of the leadership and management culture at the council and was commissioned from external consultants Hardmoor Associates.

It was spiked before being finalised after being seen by Coun Collins, the former deputy chief executive Adrienne Roberts, and former chief executive Michael Frater.

It is thought the criticisms in the document are similar to those made by the Audit Commission in 2007 and 2008. Last year the watchdog said problems relating to relationships and culture are one of two major challenges facing the authority.

The council has refused requests from the Evening Post and Lib Dem councillor Tony Sutton to disclose the document, written more than two years ago, and information which relates to it.

In refusing the request, a senior council officer said: "The information is highly sensitive and goes to the core of the management of the authority."

The council took legal advice from a barrister on the issue twice.

It has now confirmed £5,293.38 was spent on this advice.

Coun Sutton said: "This is disgraceful waste of taxpayers' money to prevent a report which should be public knowledge from being released. Having spent £30,000 and not being prepared to use the results of the research, this is further evidence of a misuse of taxpayers' money."

After Coun Sutton's request for the information was refused, he appealed to the council to reconsider.

He received a response yesterday. It said the council still believed it was not in the public interest to release the draft report, but would provide limited information, including the cost of the legal advice.

The authority has also released a brief produced by Adrienne Roberts, the former deputy chief executive of the city council, directing the work of Hardmoor Associates.

The document reveals Hardmoor was commissioned to carry out 40 one-hour interviews with councillors and senior council staff and at least one 'open forum' with 12 section heads.

Hardmoor was also asked to provide conclusions and recommendations to the leader of the council, Coun Jon Collins, and Ms Roberts.

In addition, a copy of correspondence between the clerk of the city council's legal officer, Glen O'Connell, and the clerk of the barrister retained by the authority, has been released.

All substantive correspondence and advice between the council and the barrister was withheld under a clause in the Freedom of Information Act, which allows exemptions in respect of legal professional privilege.

But the released papers do include an intriguing remark from the barrister's clerk, where he asks for guidance on how to send the legal advice requested.

He said: "Peter [Oldham] has completed his advice and due to its sensitive nature, I would be grateful if you would let me know how you would like this transmitted."

The email exchange also shows the costs of the legal advice received were "of concern" to Mr O'Connell.

Coun Graham Chapman, deputy leader of the city council, said: "The council has probably spent more than £5,000 responding to Coun Sutton and his requests and the Evening Post and its requests in terms of officer time and energy.

"We need to move on. There are some big issues to deal with in the city and this is not one of them.

"We have increasing numbers of disabled people, schools to build, and a recession to deal with – we need to get some perspective. It would be nice to hear from Coun Sutton on his perspective."

Coun Sutton said he now plans to take the case to the Information Commissioner's office, which has the power to make a final ruling on whether the council should release the document and related correspondence.