Improvements needed to ensure successful completion of Afghan resettlement programme
37,950 people arrived in the UK under Afghan resettlement schemes between April 2021 and December 2025.
Government expects to spend a total of £5.7 billion on Afghan resettlement up to 2032-33, of which £2.6 billion has yet to be incurred.
The resettlement programme needs to urgently complete the key elements of effective programme management, including having better cross-government management information.
The government must overcome ongoing challenges including a lack of available housing and poor data to ensure its programme to resettle thousands of Afghan citizens in the UK is successfully completed, according to a new National Audit Office (NAO) report.
Since 2010, the government has offered resettlement in the UK to certain groups of Afghan citizens, including people who worked with the UK government in some capacity during its military presence in Afghanistan. This work sometimes came with significant risk to those Afghan citizens and their families, who feared reprisals from the Taliban.
Although the schemes closed to new applicants in July 2025, thousands of Afghans are still being processed for resettlement.3 As at November 2025, 29,655 people were waiting to hear the results of their eligibility assessments.
Between April 2021 and December 2025, 37,950 people arrived in the UK under the schemes and, as at February 2025, the government estimated it would ultimately resettle around 9,000 more. Of those resettled, as at December 2025, 80% were living in settled accommodation.
The government anticipates that its work to resettle and integrate people will continue until 2032-33, costing a total of £5.7 billion. It spent £3.1 billion on the schemes between April 2021 and December 2025, meaning a significant proportion of the costs have not yet been incurred.
Several government departments worked at pace under complex and demanding circumstances when establishing the schemes,especially after the Taliban takeover resulted in a far greater number of people applying and becoming eligible for resettlement than had originally been envisaged.
The need to respond quickly, coupled with departments being responsible for different groups of people and resettlement stages, meant that the schemes became complex and inefficient. This is likely to have led to higher costs and worse outcomes for resettled people.
To address these challenges, in December 2024 the government merged the resettlement schemes into a combined Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), which aims to bring all eligible Afghan citizens to the UK by March 2029 and to have moved those citizens out of transitional accommodation by December 2029.
Although the creation of the ARP has led to some improvements, significant risks remain. These include poor data on the people to be resettled and their needs, and a lack of available housing, resulting in greater than anticipated levels of resettled people becoming homeless.
To ensure the successful completion of the ARP, the NAO recommends that the UK government:
urgently completes the outstanding elements of effective programme management
undertakes scenario analysis to understand the potential barriers to completing the resettlement of all eligible people to the UK, and how these can be overcome
monitors the effect of the changes under the ARP, particularly the introduction of a nine-month limit for transitional accommodation
uses the results of pilot programmes involving local authorities and community organisations to identify innovative approaches and spread good practice
identifies measures of successful integration for Afghan resettled people and uses these to assess outcomes
Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: “Government departments have worked together in challenging conditions to resettle thousands of Afghan citizens who were at risk of reprisals from the Taliban.
“Although progress has been made under the new Afghan Resettlement Programme, the government has more to do to successfully resettle the affected people in the UK.”
Following the Scottish Cup quarter final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium yesterday (Sunday, 8 March 2026), Chief Superintendent Kate Stephen said: “The behaviour of a number of supporters at the Scottish Cup quarter final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox today was shameful. It must be condemned by everyone involved in football and wider society.
“A number of arrests have already been made, and Police Scotland will now work with both clubs and the Scottish Football Association to carry out a robust investigation following the scenes on the pitch at the conclusion of the match.
“Officers and stewards were faced with extreme hostility and violence over a sustained period, with many individuals having armed themselves with items clearly intended to cause harm. Officers and members of the public have been injured in this despicable display and I want to express my thanks to all officers and staff deployed.
“The investigation will also include the actions of some supporters who entered the Broomloan Road stand without tickets before the match started, forcing delays in the security operation and the turnstiles to be closed for a period of time.
“I would also urge anyone with information about who was involved in disorder before, during or after the match to get in touch with Police Scotland on 101.”
The Scottish FA added:
“The Scottish FA condemns the behaviour from supporters entering the field of play following the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final at Ibrox Stadium.
“An investigation will be carried out immediately in line with the Judicial Panel Protocol.”
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has published the report of its Targeted Peer Review of the University of Glasgow in response to a Concern raised to the Scottish Quality Concerns Scheme by the Scottish Funding Council.
The Concern was submitted on the basis of maintenance of academic standards and the potential for systemic failure in following the university’s assessment regulations.
Although the Concern was submitted after an internal investigation by the University following the death of a student, the review did not cover the individual circumstances of the tragic incident, but focused on the broader potential for systemic issues at the university.
The Concerns process identified that a Targeted Peer Review was the most appropriate course of action to address the issues identified.
The review process took place from 4 September to 13 November 2025. A two-day on-site visit took place from 28 to 29 October 2025 and included eight meetings with staff (senior, academic, and professional services) and students as well as a presentation delivered by the university. The University of Glasgow cooperated fully with the process.
The Targeted Peer Review was undertaken by a team of four reviewers, including a student reviewer, from across the UK tertiary education sector, and set out to answer 20 lines of enquiry across the topics of assessment regulations and award of credit, extension request processes, communication with students, mitigation of risk and institutional oversight, and student engagement in institutional change.
After thorough investigation, the Targeted Peer Review team has identified areas for development and weaknesses in the areas reviewed, which indicate systemic risks to academic standards and the quality of the student experience at the University of Glasgow. The report makes 21 recommendations for the University of Glasgow to address under the areas reviewed. A full list of recommendations can be found on pages 25-27 of the report.
The report makes two overarching recommendations. Firstly, the report recommends that the university is subject to additional institutional liaison meetings in academic years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to monitor and report regularly on progress against all the recommendations within the report.
Secondly, the report recommends that the university’s next regular external peer review takes place in academic year 2027-28, one year sooner than planned, and considers progress against all the recommendations contained within this report.
The University of Glasgow will be required to submit an action plan within four weeks that covers all recommendations and proposed implementation timelines, which will be agreed by QAA.
QAA has provided a copy of the Targeted Peer Review report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for its consideration within the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit’s enquiries.
The Scottish Funding Council has said that it will be working closely with QAA Scotland and the University of Glasgow to ensure that the recommendations outlined in this report are implemented as a matter of urgency. The SFC has also announced that, given the serious nature of these findings, it is commissioning QAA to conduct a national review of the assessment and associated policies and procedures across the sector.
Vicki Stott, QAA’s Chief Executive, said: “I am grateful to the Targeted Peer Review team for conducting such a thorough and robust review of the University of Glasgow.
“The findings are of serious concern. We are committed to working closely with the university and the Scottish Funding Council to ensure that the University of Glasgow implements the recommendations in this report in a timely manner so that academic standards are protected, and the quality of student experience at the university is safeguarded.
“We look forward to completing the wider work that the Scottish Funding Council has announced today related to these topics, with the Scottish sector.”
Former Heath Secretary Alan Milburn has launched his ‘groundbreaking’ investigation into the causes of record unemployment and inactivity among 16 to 24 year olds with a call for young people and experts to come forward with their views
DWP’s Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel and experts spanning health, business and government to support Alan Milburn’s investigation into the root causes of youth inactivity.
With almost one million young people not earning or learning the Call for Evidence kicks off a national conversation and seeks views from across society.
Former Health Secretary will publish an interim report in Spring to support the Government’s drive to create opportunity for young people.
With almost one million young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) Mr Milburn is leading an investigation into the causes of soaring unemployment in the young in recent years.
Yesterday he used the formal launch of the investigation to set out his ambition to inspire a ‘Movement’ to galvanise communities in all corners of the country.
As well as naming the panel – made up of health, business and policy experts – which will help him to come up with recommendations he launched a call for evidence to help shape the investigation, saying a ‘coalition of the concerned’ must mobilise to save a generation not earning or learning.
The inquiry comes as Government launches a major drive to get young people earning or learning, including a recent £1.5 billion investment over the Spending Review to help hundreds of thousands more into work or training through the Youth Guarantee, as well as apprenticeships places for up to 50,000 young people.
The Call for Evidence is open until 30 January 2026 and gives young people and their stakeholders the opportunity to shape Mr Milburn’s report and suggest life-changing solutions the government can bring forward. He is keen to canvas the views of anyone with experience of the issue – from young people themselves to their parents, football coaches and teachers.
He will take a radical, system-wide approach that matches the urgency of the task at hand.
This comes as almost one million young people (946,000) are not in education, employment or training – enough to fill Wembley Stadium ten times over – and the number of young people receiving health-related benefits has soared, with over a quarter of NEET young people now citing long-term sickness or disability as a barrier to participation. The risk of being NEET is over double if you come from a disadvantaged background and have low qualifications.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “Too many young people are being denied the opportunity to reach their full potential, and it is a crisis we cannot ignore.
“This Government has invested a further £1.5 billion to create thousands of work, training and apprenticeships opportunities, but to turn the tide on the longer-term trend we need to understand why so many young people have been left behind.
“That’s why I’ve asked Alan Milburn to help us build a system that supports them not just to find a job, but to build a better future – because when young people succeed, Britain succeeds.”
Mr Milburn has recruited both the DWP’s Youth Guarantee Advisory panel and experts with diverse expertise and lived experience to support his investigation into the root causes of the concerning rise in youth inactivity.
The panel will be mobilised immediately and will meet for the first time this week. It consists of:
Gavin Kelly – Chief Executive of the Nuffield Foundation and previous Chair of the Resolution Foundation.
Rachel Perkins – Clinical psychologist with over 30 years’ NHS experience and former Mind Champion of the Year
Ruth Owen OBE – CEO of Leonard Cheshire and disability rights advocate
Shuab Gamote – Co-author of ‘Inside the Mind of a 16-Year-Old’ and educational equality advocate
Sir Charlie Mayfield – Former Chairman of John Lewis Partnership and Chair of Keep Britain Working review
Tracy Brabin – Mayor of West Yorkshire
Andy Haldane – President-Elect of the British Chambers of Commerce and former Chief Economist at the Bank of England
Ravi Gurumurthy – Group Chief Executive Officer at Nesta
Lisa O’Loughlin – Principal and CEO of East Lancashire Learning Group
Dr Jennifer Dixon – Chief Executive of the Health Foundation
Baroness Louise Casey DBE – Social welfare sector expert.
Former Health Secretary and Chair of the investigation Alan Milburn said: “Nearly one million young people in Britain are not in education, employment or training – and that number has been rising for four years. This is a national outrage – it’s both a social injustice and an economic catastrophe.
“We need to create a movement – a coalition of the concerned – to help us understand what’s broken and what must change.
“Every young person, whatever their background, deserves the opportunity to learn or to earn. My report will be unafraid to shine a light on uncomfortable truths and recommend where radical change is needed.”
To launch the Call for Evidence, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden joined Alan Milburn at Boxing Futures in Peterborough to meet young people benefiting from local support programmes and heard directly about their experiences. The organisation works with NEET young people in the local community to support them onto a better path.
Boxing Futures’ CEO Anthony York said: “The high number of young people who are NEET is a serious and growing concern. At Boxing Futures, we work hard to ensure young people engage positively with education, training or employment.
“Our community-based, tailored programmes of non-contact boxing and therapeutic talk sessions tackle this head on, both as an early-intervention model and directly with young people who find themselves in this position.
“Working at the coalface of the youth sector, we see every day how vital these services are, and how much demand continues to grow. We are delighted the Government has made young people a priority and is now reversing a decade of declining investment in youth provision.”
The independent report will examine the drivers behind rising NEET rates and economic inactivity among young people and make recommendations for policy responses aimed at maximising opportunities for young people.
Alongside the Call for Evidence, the review is already engaging extensively with stakeholders, including a series of roundtables planned for the new year.
This is the latest step in the government’s work to support young people into employment or training. A £1.5 billion investment over the Spending Review was recently announced; £820 million to overhaul support and give nearly 900,000 young people across the UK support, and £725 million to rebalance apprenticeships towards young people and fully fund apprenticeships in small and medium sized businesses for eligible people aged 16-24.
Barry Fletcher, CEO at Youth Futures Foundation, comments: “With one in eight young people not earning or learning, the launch of Alan Milburn’s investigation marks an important step towards tackling this stubborn challenge.
“Evidence of what works, and the voices of young people themselves, will be essential to finding system-wide solutions that truly open doors to meaningful work and learning, for every young person.
“As the What Works Centre for youth employment we look forward to contributing our research and evidence alongside convening the Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel. We also urge others to share evidence and insights to ensure the review gains the most complete picture of this complex challenge.”
Ishrat, Youth Futures Foundation young ambassador and Youth Guarantee Advisory Group member, comments: “As a young person, I’m very hopeful about the government’s decision to launch an independent investigation into rising youth inactivity.
“Mental health conditions and disabilities are genuine barriers for us, and this inquiry is an opportunity to rethink how we can further support young people into work and education. I’m glad that our lived experiences are finally being recognised and valued. I have hope that the final report will lead to real, lasting change.”
Abigail Ampofo, interim Chief Executive of YoungMinds said: “With so many young people struggling with their mental health, this investigation is a huge opportunity to get to the heart of the reforms that are needed to ensure that no young person is left alone with their mental health, and unable to learn, work, and achieve their ambitions as a result.
“We particularly welcome the commitment to hearing from young people from all backgrounds as we know that young people from Black and racially minoritised communities often experience systemic barriers to accessing the same level of support as their peers.”
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT MUST HAND OVER STURGEON INFORMATION
Scottish Information Commissioner David Hamilton has issued a decision which requires the Scottish Government to disclose some of the written evidence supplied to James Hamilton as part of his investigation into whether former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had breached the Ministerial Code.
Previously, the Scottish Government had claimed that it didn’t hold the requested information but, in December 2023, the Court of Session agreed with the Commissioner that the information was in fact held, and that the Scottish Government should therefore issue a response.
The decision comes after the requester appealed the Scottish Government’s subsequent response to the Commissioner, on the basis that much of the information was exempted from disclosure.
In his decision, the Commissioner finds that, while some information was appropriately withheld, other information should be disclosed to the requester.
In particular, the Commissioner finds that the Scottish Government had incorrectly applied the exemption which protects information where disclosure would harm the effective conduct of public affairs to all the withheld information, finding that disclosure would not substantially harm the Scottish Government’s ability to carry out future investigations of this type.
The Commissioner also meticulously reviewed the redactions applied by Scottish Government to information which was withheld to avoid breaching court orders. Following this, he instructed the release of further material.
Similarly, The Commissioner found that, while some information had been appropriately withheld because it related to confidential legal communications, other information where this exemption had been applied should be disclosed.
In some cases, this was because it did not meet the standard required for the exemption to apply while, in others, he found that, while the exemption could be appropriately applied, the public interest nevertheless favoured the disclosure of the information. Under freedom of information (FOI) law, many exemptions must be set aside if the disclosure of the information is in the public interest.
The Commissioner also identified significant procedural concerns in the Scottish Government’s handling of this case.
He found, for example, that the Scottish Government had failed to provide all of the information falling within the scope of an Information Notice served on the authority in March 2024 to enable the Commissioner to investigate the case.
Under FOI law the Commissioner can issue legally enforceable Information Notices to secure the provision of information needed to investigate FOI appeals.
During his investigation, the Commissioner subsequently found that there was additional material falling within the scope of the Information Notice which had not, initially, been supplied to his office.
While the Commissioner’s decision finds that this failure to fully comply with the Information Notice was a matter of significant concern, he also accepts that the omission was a genuine oversight, as opposed to an attempt to deliberately obstruct his investigation. As a result, he took the decision in this case not to refer this failure to the Court of Session.
The Commissioner’s decision also raises concerns with the Scottish Government’s interpretation of the request, the changing of its position during his investigation, and its failure to make a full and appropriate case for the application of exemptions to all of the information it proposed to withhold.
Commenting on this case, Scottish Information Commissioner David Hamilton said: “This was a very complex case, and that complexity was compounded by the way in which elements of this case were handled by the Scottish Government.
“When a public body seeks to withhold information under FOI law, it is the responsibility of that body to appropriately make their case to me. It is not for my staff to identify sensitive information on behalf of an organisation, or to make the case for an exemption on its behalf. Authorities must, therefore, ensure that its case is fully and appropriately stated in its entirety.
“It is also particularly disappointing that, had it not been for the diligence of my staff and their forensic analysis of this case, many of the failures that arose may have gone undetected.
“While there is no evidence of impropriety, this nevertheless reflects poorly on the Scottish Government handling of this case, and I trust it will take urgent action to prevent such occurrences happening again.”
The Commissioner’s decision requires the Scottish Government to disclose some information which had been wrongly withheld, and issue a revised response in relation to a small amount of other information, by12 January 2026.
Former and current trustees at Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International lacked oversight and control over charitable funds, a Charity Commission inquiry has found
The charity operates through a large network of individual branches and works to promote Christianity.
The Commission opened an inquiry after financial concerns were identified, including the alleged misappropriation of charity funds.
Key findings
The inquiry found that the charity’s trustees could not demonstrate that they had adequate oversight or control over more than 100 bank accounts operated by individual branches of the charity, with charity money at risk across the organisation’s extensive network.
As a result of serious concerns regarding the trustees’ ability to carry out their duties effectively, the Commission appointed an interim manager in 2019 to work alongside the remaining trustees to implement essential financial controls.
Many of the charity’s financial issues stemmed from its complex structure, which had grown from a handful of branches to over 90 locations nationwide, without the corresponding governance improvements.
Branches operated autonomously, opening bank accounts without central oversight and failing to report income in a timely manner. This created substantial risks to charitable funds and resulted in inaccurate financial reporting.
Additionally, branch offices were making significant financial decisions, including property purchases and lease agreements, without trustee knowledge or authorisation.
This lack of oversight by trustees led to financial losses for the charity – for example, some branches occupied property without first obtaining the necessary planning permission and one of which was subject to costly legal action by a council. Further losses arose because of the former and current trustees’ failure to regularise employment contracts which resulted in payments to settle employment disputes.
Regulatory action
As a result of its findings, the Commission took action to freeze the charity’s assets to prevent further loss.
An interim manager was appointed to implement robust financial controls at the charity and to improve its governance.
The interim manager was discharged in September 2024. The interim manager appointment was lengthy due to the complexity of the reform needed at the charity and the delays caused by legal proceedings.
Following the completion of this work, the Commission issued an order directing the charity to follow a regulatory action plan concerning governance and policy changes. The Commission is now satisfied that the trustees have complied with the action plan.
Amy Spiller, Head of Investigations at the Charity Commission said: “The rapid growth of a charity comes with correspondingly larger potential risks, as our inquiry clearly shows.
“In this case, the trustees’ fundamental failure to maintain financial controls meant donor funds were at serious risk across their entire network.
“Following the intervention of the Commission and the interim manager, the trustees were better able to implement essential reforms, meaning the charity can now operate effectively and focus on delivering its charitable objects.”
Researchers have launched a major new investigation into the power of Community Wealth Building (CWB) to affect local economies and improve population health.
Glasgow Caledonian University will lead a £1.5million study to determine whether retaining more wealth in local communities can prevent premature deaths and tackle health inequalities.
CWB is an approach to economic development that aims to generate, circulate and retain more wealth within local areas.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funding the three-year study to examine how CWB is being implemented and how it is impacting local economies and population health.
GCU will work in partnership with researchers from the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, the University of Glasgow and Lancaster University to assess whether CWB is improving economic and health outcomes. The findings will inform local economic polices across Scotland and other parts of the UK.
Neil Craig, Professor of Public Health Economics at the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health at Glasgow Caledonian University and Co-Principal Investigator, said:“Economic inequality is a cause of health inequality.
“Ultimately, if CWB is found to be effective in improving health and reducing inequalities, this could lead to fewer premature deaths, particularly amongst economically disadvantaged communities.”
North Ayrshire became the first area of Scotland to adopt a CWB strategy in 2020. The approach is now being piloted in Clackmannanshire, Fife, Glasgow, the South of Scotland and the Western Isles. Councils work alongside major employers, businesses and partner organisations and commit to generating employment and spending resources locally.
Dr Micaela Mazzei, Reader at the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health and Co-Principal Investigator, said:“Previous research shows that there is a need to better understand whether and how CWB can make a real difference.
“The stakeholders recognise the importance of this work and have pledged to offer practical support, share their expertise and act on the findings.”
Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy at North Ayrshire Council, added:“CWB has become an integral part of how we operate, helping to support both our local community and businesses.
“In the last financial year alone, more than £70million was spent locally with almost 900 suppliers. This research is timely and important as it will deepen the evidence base to increase our understanding of the wider impacts of CWB.”
Dr Jennifer McLean, Interim Director of the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, said:“We will work to ensure that the voices, expertise and perspectives of those working across various sectors involved in local CWB implementation in Scotland are able to shape and inform this project, so that the evaluation is grounded in local insights, and that learning is relevant to local people and communities.”
Three women, aged 31, 34 and 42, have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 after a van was driven into an external fence of a business premises at Crewe Toll.
The incident happened during a disturbance in the Crewe Road North area this morning (Tuesday, 15 July, 2025).
Police Scotland’s Counter Terrorism Unit are leading the investigation and enquiries are ongoing.
Police are treating this as targeted, and do not believe there is any wider threat to the public.
If anyone was on Crewe Road North or in the nearby supermarket carpark during the early hours of this morning and has any relevant dashcam footage or saw anything suspicious, please contact the Police on 101 quoting reference 0416 of 15 July.
A new inquiry will explore the provision of children’s TV and video content in the UK and what can be done to ensure future generations continue to have access to high-quality British-made programming.
Research from Ofcom shows a structural shift in the viewing habits of young people, with television viewing by children dropping and YouTube now the most used app or site by children of all ages, with 88% of 3 to 17-year-olds using it last year.
The changing ways in which audience consume TV and video, has made it more challenging for public service broadcasters to make original TV content for children and for it to be found. This has a knock-on effect for those in our creative industries who want to make quality UK TV and video for children.
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry will therefore examine how to ensure those making original high-quality content can continue and how it can be made easier to find it online.
It will also explore issues relating to parental control of online content, the potential positive and negative effects of how children watch TV and video content on their health and development, and wider issues relating to the sector’s contribution to the economy and its importance to the UK’s cultural identity.
Chair of the CMS Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, said: “Children’s viewing habits have come a long way, but whether they watch through a smart TV or a tablet, there is still demand for good quality TV and video for children.
“We all want young people to have access to a range of programming, so in addition to cartoons, they also see drama and factual programmes. We want them to be able to be educated and inspired, as well as entertained.
“Changes to the media landscape, particularly the shift in viewing to YouTube, pose huge challenges for the future of children’s programming and the continued production of original content by our public service broadcasters.
“We want to know what prominence means for programmes made for children in the future world of smart TVs, streaming, video sharing platforms and endless choice.
“We have a proud history of high-quality children’s television in the UK. Our inquiry will be showcasing the contribution the sector makes to both our culture and economy and how we can best ensure that content designed for children in all its forms continues to both educate and entertain.”
Terms of reference
The Committee is inviting written submissions in response to the following questions:
Children’s TV and video content in the UK
Who is commissioning and making original, high-quality, TV and video content for children and young audiences in the UK?
How can they be best supported to continue to make more?
How does the range of content and genres for children vary between that provided by public service media, subscription channels, and both short- and long-form video sharing platforms?
Which audiences, by age or other characteristic, are currently being underserved?
How can we increase the amount of news and factual programming made for children on TV and online?
Finding children’s TV and video content online
How can it be made easier to find original, high-quality, TV and video content for children online?
How can the attribution of public service children’s content on video sharing platforms be improved?
How effective are the tools available for parents to control what children are watching on public service media, subscription channels, video sharing platforms?
Health and child development
What evidence is there that the TV and video content that children watch, and how they watch it, can contribute:
Positively to their health, learning and development?
Negatively to their health, learning and development?
Wider benefits of children’s TV
How does children’s TV made in the UK contribute to:
The findings of an independent review into how the Council handled allegations of misconduct have been published.
Led by former Scottish Information Commissioner, Kevin Dunion, the investigation focused on how the Council handled any allegations made, the policy and procedures in place to deal with similar types of allegations and what improvements, if any, could be made to safeguard against any inappropriate behaviour in future.
Following his appointment in February, Mr Dunion carried out a detailed review of relevant council policies, reports and other documents, webcasts of council meetings and 35 structured interviews. He also received 20 written representations from current and former councillors and staff.
In his report, which will be considered by councillors at a council meeting next Thursday (19 June), he concludes that complaints were, for the most part, handled properly and that the policies and procedures in place are broadly effective. In particular, he states that the recent allegations were ‘well handled and properly considered in line with the Council’s policies’.
However, he did identify issues with how previous concerns were dealt with and makes a series of recommendations around the Council’s complaints procedures and whistleblowing policy – in particular around the safeguarding of victims and/ or those making a complaint.
He also recommends further consideration of councillors’ conduct, their interactions with staff and the appropriateness of some social events in the City Chambers.
Chief Executive Paul Lawrence said: “I want to thank Kevin Dunion for leading this sensitive review and for his report, not least given the complexity of the brief and tight timescales.
“I know this must have been challenging and a difficult experience for many people and I particularly want to thank those who came forward to be interviewed or provided information to the review. Your input is very much appreciated.
“Subject to approval by councillors next Thursday, we will bring a further report back to the Policy and Sustainability Committee in August, outlining our proposed actions in response to Mr Dunion’s recommendations.”
