THE council has been accused of ‘glossing over its significant shortcomings’ in the latest controversy over new offices in Dorchester.

West Dorset District Council agreed to take on the recommendations made by independent auditors KPMG in a report into the decision-making process beh-ind the move to Charles Street at a meeting on Monday.

Harry Meare of KPMG said: “I’m not here to comment on the council’s decision – the process followed steps and was a reasonable process.

“In the system of grading from one to four on value for money this was a two – the process was satisfactory but no more than that.”

Councillor Alistair Chisholm spoke out against the findings.

He said: “Charles Street was the most expensive site – how can procedure that led to this outcome be judged by KPMG to be satisfactory?

“Consultation on Phase One could have been a great deal clearer to a great many more people.”

Afterwards, Coun Chisholm accused Conservative councillors of trying to ‘gloss over’ the shortcomings.

He said: “KPMG found significant shortcomings in the approach to consulting the public – as we are all only too well aware.

“WDDC failed to offer the tender for new offices in a fair and open manner and did not communicate its decisions clearly. These points have been glossed over by Council leader Robert Gould.”

Members of the Audit and Governance Committee unanimously voted in favour of taking on all six of the recommendations, which include pro-active communication with the public.

They also agreed on a timed action plan to implement the recommendations. Robert Gould said: “The report raised a number of good procedures and a few areas where we can improve.

“I’d have been surprised if there hadn’t been recommendations.

“There were no grounds for a public interest report, which is definitely a good thing.

“I don’t think it suggested we didn’t consult the public enough – just that we need to be more pro-active. This is hardly surprising the way it became a political football.

“We’ve taken the findings on board and have already begun to improve. The process was very open and democratic.

Chief executive David Clarke said: “Obviously Phase Two is an important project.

“There will be a full report in the next few months.”

The auditors' recommendations

The auditors looked at how the development was selected, the information on which the decision was based, contracts, monitoring and risk assessment of the project, procedures in place for councillors to challenge decisions and public engagement.

• Recommendation 1 Consider opportunity costs as well as cashflows when evaluating future tenders

• Recommendation 2 Where the council is engaged in a tender process, it should take care not to be seen to favour one party

• Recommendation 3 Where the council is engaged in a tender process, it should take care to comply fully with relevant procurement rules

• Recommendation 4 Improve engagement with members and the public through more pro-active communication on the rationale for procedures, such as guidance on why contracts are redacted, meeting minute policies and public participation rules. This would save officers’ time

• Recommendation 5 Ensure pro-active engagement with the community which demonstrates the consultation that has taken place, particularly over a number of years

• Recommendation 6 Communication on significant projects should be more pro-active. Officers should be careful to be seen not to breach the publicity code. Clear guidance should be made available on asking questions and why they may be considered vexatious.

'The move is a step forward'

John Grantham, of the anti-Charles Street group Public Holds WDDC To Account, said the move was a step forward but that there were still concerns over Phase Two.

He said: “This was a most important step forward for democracy.

“We still have doubts and reservations in the areas not looked at by KPMG because the report was severely limited and there are issues with Phase Two which are very worrying.

“There are still major decisions to be made that we’re worried about and that ghastly monster building means no one will forget how this was achieved.”