COUNCIL bosses are determined to build on the positive outcomes of its latest watchdog inspection report and tackle report criticism head on.

As reported in yesterday’s Argus, Blaenau Gwent Council escaped being taken into special measures after the Wales Audit Office investigation found improvements have been made in the overall running of the authority.

However, the report revealed that although there has been some progress towards tackling key issues such as decisionmaking, developing ways to engage with the public and working with other partners to improve social services and support to vulnerable people, unless inconsistencies and weaknesses in how the council is run are addressed, it is unlikely that the council will sustain significant improvement.

The WAO told the council it must come up with an action plan on how to tackle these underlying issues and respond to the report within 30 days.

One of the main criticisms is inconsistency that exists in effectively managing projects and performance.

Chief executive Dave Waggett explained that although they accept those findings, part of the issue is that they have not effectively identified their key priorities.

“In areas we have identified as our key priorities we have seen significant improvement, however, we needed to set out what is important to us and explain clearly why we have invested so much time in these areas.”

Chief people and performance officer Mark McIntyre said the report shows that the council has the people and expertise for improvement, but these improvements need to be across the board and that is nowthe focus.

Other key failings in the investigation relate to the political instability within the council.

Leader John Mason said that the new executive is fully committed to putting its political differences aside for the good of the authority.

“We are working collectively for the future of this council.

This is an opportunity that we cannot miss.”


Past ‘misinformation’ investigated and bullying culture revealed

THE WAO report picked up on several issues as reported in the Argus.

Weaknesses in arrangements that support effective decision-making referred to the previous WAO investigation of former leader Des Hillman and former chief executive Robin Morrisons. They were investigated after allegations they misinformed councillors by telling them a senior council officer had suffered a heart attack when he hadn’t, which resulted in members backing the officer’s £300,000 redundancy.

Although the decision was reasonable and lawful, he found the processes and actions that underpinned the decision were significantly flawed.

The report also mentions the suspension of a councillor in 2009, Nigel Daniels, found to have intimidated and acted inappropriately towards a council officer. The ensuing review revealed there was a culture of bullying at the council in July 2011.