BEYOND THE LAW

It is just two years since Doncaster mayor Martin Winter hired Susan Law, former chief executive of Adelaide city council, at vast expense to Donny's new "managing director". At the time he proclaimed the appointment a major coup for the embattled authority.

Alas, after running her ruler over the council's parlous finances, one of Law's first acts was to freeze all budgets. 

But the atmosphere between mayor and MD only really turned sour last Christmas, when Law was obliged to call in Inspector Knacker to investigate allegations of corruption surrounding the mayor's pet Glass Park project (Eyes passin) following a damning district auditor's report into how the scheme to regenerate a derelict glass factory site had swallowed some £2m over seven years with little result.

The crown prosecution service eventually concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone in connection with the fiasco. Law also commissioned a wide-ranging - and still ongoing - inquiry into the project by Stuart Dobson, former chief exec of Birmingham city council. This was the last straw for Winter. With Law back in Australia for most of last month following a family bereavement, he launched a Thai-style coup. The ruling Labour cabinet met behind closed doors to consider "concerns" about Law's "performance" including allegations of poor communication skills, an "overbearing" attitude towards fellow officers an lack of consultation with the mayor and cabinet. A disciplinary procedure, with the aim of removing the MD, is now under way.

Ms Law can expect a massive payoff as the price of her departure. But, hey, it's only the taxpayers' money.

Private Eye No 1169 13th October 2006

TAL STORY

With Doncaster mayor Martin Winter gunning for council's chief executive of just two years, Susan Law (Eye 1169), there is speculation over who might pick up the poisoned chalice next. One possible contender is Doncaster's current monitoring officer Tal Michael - or, to give him his full, very important title: "Strategic Director Policy, Partnerships and Governance".

Back in 1996 Michael - who is the son of former Welsh Secretary Alun - was a Labour councillor in Islington. He and two colleagues were forced to apologise to Liz Davies, a leftwing barrister who had been barred from standing as a Labour parliamentary candidate, after she threatened libel proceedings. The trio had sent letters to Labour's national executive alleging that Davies had incited a violent mob to intimidate fellow councillors during a protest over a playground closure. Alas there was not a jot or scintilla of truth in Michael's allegation. He was forced to grovel and make a contribution to leftwing MP Jeremy Corbyn's campaign funds in lieu of being hauled through the courts. Now, with the top job in Doncaster likely to be up for grabs soon, perhaps he thinks his grovelling days are over.

Private Eye No 1170 27th October 2006