Council resolution on Burngreave New Deal

That this Council:

(a) receives the report of the Chief Internal Auditor and comments of the Burngreave New Deal for Communities Working Party, as requested by the City Council at its meeting held on 6th February, 2008, and notes that the matter is to be considered in more detail by the Audit Committee;

(b) notes the Chief Internal Auditor's report into the Burngreave New Deal for Communities organisation and is deeply disappointed at its findings;

(c) is sorry that many people in Burngreave have been let down by this Council who, despite being the accountable body, failed to effectively scrutinise investment intended to improve their lives;

(d) concurs with the recommendations made by the Chief Internal Auditor and calls on Burngreave New Deal for Communities to act on them immediately in the interests of delivering the very best for the people of Burngreave;

(e) has no confidence that the Chief Executive of Burngreave New Deal for Communities has the ability to carry out these changes quickly and effectively and therefore calls for the resignation of the present Burngreave New Deal for Communities Chief Executive in order to restore the confidence of local people;

(f) believes that the poor management of Burngreave New Deal for Communities is not a full reflection of the positive work carried out by Burngreave New Deal for Communities;

(g) notes that the aim of this Council is to ensure that management and leadership is improved so that local people in Burngreave get a better deal on the investment intended to improve their lives and that the Council resolves to offer support, advice or training for Burngreave New Deal for Communities to this end;

(h) instructs the Interim Chief Executive to carry out a full review of the role of the Council as an accountable body and report back to Cabinet with recommendations to address the shortcomings exposed by this report; and

(i) furthermore instructs that the Interim Chief Executive and the Leader of Council send a joint letter to Burngreave New Deal for Communities in order to:

(i) find out what action Burngreave New Deal for Communities intends to take as a result of this report and this Council resolution;

(ii) inform Burngreave New Deal for Communities that, unless this Council as the accountable body is satisfied that issues will be addressed, then all proper action will be considered, including withholding investment, until proper management is in place.

(NOTE: Councillor Jackie Drayton declared a personal interest as a former member of the Burngreave New Deal for Communities Partnership Board and Councillor Ibrar Hussain also declared an interest as the Chair of the Burngreave New Deal for Communities Small Grants Panel).