City Council refuses to release critical report

NOTTINGHAM city council is refusing to hand over a draft report that is highly critical of the authority and Labour leader Jon Collins.

The document cost tax payers almost £30,000 but was never circulated to officers and councillors.

The council has repeatedly refused requests to disclose the document and information relating to it. These requests have been made by the Evening Post and Lib Dem councillor Tony Sutton.

The former deputy chief executive Adrienne Roberts commissioned the report but it was spiked before being finalised.

Adrienne Roberts and Coun Collins saw the final draft by external consultants, Hardmoor Associates.

Coun Sutton said: "Why shouldn't I be able to view the document itself, the brief given to the consultant, correspondence with him, and the legal advice obtained by the council, on this matter? It is a disgraceful situation. I am going to raise this at the next full council meeting."

In refusing a request under the Freedom of Information Act for correspondence about the report, a senior council officer said: "The information is highly sensitive and goes to the core of the management of the authority."

The criticisms in the documents are believed to be 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.