Criminal probe announced as Rotherham’s council leadership quit

A criminal investigation is to be started after a damning new report into Rotherham’s child sexual exploitation prompted the replacement of its entire political leadership with Government commissioners.

Communities secretary Eric Pickles announced the measures to replace the council’s “wholly dysfunctional” political leadership just moments after the authority’s entire cabinet announced its intention to resign in the wake of the Louise Casey inspection report.

At the same time, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said its ongoing investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham was to be extended in the light of Miss Casey’s findings.

The NCA said Operation Stovewood, its investigation in to child sexual exploitation in the town, would “examine a number of potentially criminal matters identified during a recent inspection of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.

“Communities and Local Government Minister Eric Pickles (pictured) today informed Parliament of the outcome of an inspection conducted by a team led by Louise Casey. A number of matters have been referred to Operation Stovewood as they potentially fall within its terms of reference.

“It would not be appropriate to comment in detail about the matters referred until investigators have an opportunity to analyse the information, which they will do as part of phase one of the investigation.

“The NCA can confirm that the matters referred are allegations of potential criminal behaviour. Operation Stovewood is not investigating any misconduct matters.”

Eric Pickles has told MPs he will impose early elections in 2016 on Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and proposes to send in commissioners to take over the responsibilities of the council’s cabinet in the wake of the investigation by Louise Casey.

Mr Pickles said the report showed RMBC was failing in its public duties and he would exercise powers given to him by law.

In a statement to MPs he said: “My proposals are designed to give the council the new start it needs and to put an immediate end to the council’s on-going service and governance failure.

“I am seeking to make an order under the Local Government Act 2000 to move Rotherham council to all out elections in 2016 and every fourth year thereafter.

“The 2016 elections will be an opportunity for the people of Rotherham to renew the membership of their council and elect those they have confidence in.”

The Communities Secretary continued: “In the immediate term, I am minded to appoint commissioners who will provide new leadership taking over the roles of the currently wholly dysfunctional cabinet.

“I am proposing they will therefore initially exercise all the functions currently exercised by the cabinet – that is all the council’s executive functions.”

RMBC’s cabinet announced its collective resignation minutes before Mr Pickles stood up to make his statement in the Commons.

The ruling Labour cabinet issued a statement which said: “As a Cabinet, whatever the details, as the political leadership of the council we must take responsibility.

“We therefore announce our intention to resign our positions as soon as transitional arrangements can be put in place.”

Mr Pickles said the initial report by Professor Alexis Jay showed how vulnerable children had been “repeatedly failed” by RMBC, sparking the new probe which was published today.

He said the Jay investigation showed a council “paralysed by complacency, institutionalised political correctness and blatant failures of political and officer leadership”.

The new report presented a “disturbing picture of a council failing in its duty to protect vulnerable children and young people”, Mr Pickles told MPs.

The Communities Secretary said there was an “intrinsic” culture of denial at the local authority and confirmed a “complete failure of political and officer leadership”.

Mr Pickles described a “pervading culture of bullying, sexism and misplaced political correctness” and told MPs: “Both members and officers lack the confidence to tackle difficult issues for fear of being seen as racist or upsetting community cohesion.

“The council is currently incapable of tackling its weakness without substantial intervention.”

Mr Pickles continued: “Some councillors have not lived up to the high standards expected of those in public life or their positions of responsibility.

“For example, the council goes to lengths to cover up and to silence whistle blowers. It has created an unhealthy climate where people fear to speak out because they are seeing the consequences of doing so.

“Management is ineffective. There is no coherent senior leadership team and no permanent chief executive. There is a poorly directed tier of middle management some of whom do not demonstrate they have the skills, drive and ability necessary to turn this organisation around.”

The Communities Secretary said there was a history of poor performance and tolerance of failure in children’s services.

The report convinced him the council was failing in its statutory “best value” duties and letting down its citizens.

Mr Pickles said the report uncovered “serious weaknesses” in the council’s taxi licensing system and told MPs he proposed the commissioners take over all of the authority’s licensing functions.

He is also proposing they have the function of appointing the chief executive, chief financial officer and the monitoring officer and of nominating members to other bodies.

These were “wholly exceptional” steps, he said, and added he hoped democratic control could be rolled back “as rapidly as possible”, but only when the commissioners were confident the functions would be exercised properly.

They will review and report back quarterly on what can be returned to council control, he said.

Mr Pickles is proposing a team of five commissioners, including an overall lead and one tasked specifically with looking at children’s services.

He also confirmed he planned to end “taxpayer-funded reward for failure” by requiring the council to stop special responsibility allowance for cabinet members without functions while the commissioners are in force.

The council will now have 14 days to make representations before Mr Pickles decides to put his plan in to motion.

He concluded: “It is with a heavy heart that I’m having to resort to full central intervention.

“The voice of victims has to be clearly heard.”

Shadow communities secretary Hilary Benn welcomed the proposals outlined in response to the “frankly damning” report which, he said, showed the council had been more concerned with protecting its reputation than safeguarding its children.

He told MPs: “In order to move forwards everyone involved has to accept the truth.

“It’s clear the council has not yet done so and as a result it does not currently have the capability to heal itself.

“I agree with the Secretary of State that a fresh start is needed.”

He said he supported the Government’s proposed course of action in particular the appointment of commissioners to take over the Cabinet positions.

What had happened was “unforgivable”, he insisted.

In his response, Mr Pickles said he found the situation “heartbreaking” after 40 years of being involved with local government.

He went on: “I just can’t understand how people with responsibility, both officers and members, could ever, ever have allowed this to happen.”

He also revealed he had considered leaving certain functions to the council, but ultimately found that “simply wasn’t possible” due to the scale of the problem.

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