Dorset Council has terminated the contracts of 11 interim officers following serious breaches of financial regulations and undisclosed gifts, according to a recently released internal audit report. These officers were initially engaged to address longstanding health and safety concerns across council buildings, but their work has come under intense scrutiny.
The audit revealed widespread management failures and political oversight lapses which led to inflated budgets and unauthorized spending. The health and safety work budget ballooned from an initial £4 million estimate to £13 million, contributing to an overall expenditure of approximately £28 million over several years.
Favored firms reportedly received contracts without adequate authorization, with instances of inflated fees and unclear justification for expenses. One glaring example cited in the report involves a charge of £300 for work valued at just £20.
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The report, published on July 28, describes evidence indicating potential fraud, illegal activity, and dishonesty among council officers. The buildings in question were transferred to Dorset Council from predecessor authorities in April 2019 with insufficient verification that statutory health and safety obligations were met. It wasn’t until 2022 that these issues were fully identified.
Simon Clifford, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Finance and councillor for Chickerell, expressed dismay over millions being spent without assurance of value for money. He emphasized the importance of further investigations into suspicious transactions, including a substantial transfer from council reserve funds noted shortly after the Liberal Democrats assumed control of the council.
The investigation uncovered significant governance failures within the Building Health and Safety Compliance Team, highlighting non-compliance in recruitment, budget code management, procurement, and payment authorization. Financial controls and contract awarding procedures were frequently bypassed, leading to unmonitored spending, diminished confidence in value for money, and heightened financial and reputational risks.
Though these incidents occurred under previous Conservative leadership, the current Liberal Democrat administration commits itself to transparency and accountability. It has introduced stricter controls to prevent similar failings moving forward.
The probe, conducted by the independent South West Audit Partnership (SWAP), examined health and safety compliance activities from December 2022 to October 2024. It followed initial concerns raised internally about overspending and procedural non-compliance. This culminated in the immediate dismissal of the 11 interim officers within the Assets and Property team.
A separate audit identified discrepancies between council decision-making and financial systems, spotlighting weaknesses in authorization limits, procurement processes, and transparency for high-value expenditures.
Council leader Nick Ireland stressed the seriousness of the findings and affirmed his dedication to restoring public trust. A robust remedial plan is underway, reinforced by a specialized team focused on improvement. Public scrutiny will continue, with Audit and Governance Committee meetings anticipated to review findings in October 2025.
Interim Chief Executive Sam Crowe acknowledged residents’ concerns and the council’s responsibility in addressing the failings. He pledged full transparency, active learning, and ongoing progress updates to ensure such lapses are never repeated.