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Russ the Fuss 1043
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Age Concern 1048
Wonderland 1 1049

Winter Warmer 1051
Marty Pants 1058

Tory's Too 1063
Ah Sole 1068

Aidan Abetting 1073
Wonderland 2 1077

Doncaster Races 1079
Cherie on Top 1082

Educashun Newz 1092
Car Wars 1093

Awards 2003 1096
Eye Earner 1099

Cole not Dole 1102
Corden Blue 1106

Dole not Cole 1102
School's Out 1111

Rule of Law 1116
Awards 2004 1123

Grovelling 1134
Fiddlers Free 1127

Regeneration Game 1147

Donny Déjà Vu 1151
School's Out 2 1152

Rave On 1153

Beyond The Law 1169
Tal Story 1170

Wragge Head 1172
Riches To Wragges 1174

Awards 2006 1175
Winter's Tale 1176

WRAGGE HEAD

Accountants Grant Thornton have been interviewing councillors and officers in Doncaster, gathering evidence in the “misconduct” case against director Susan Law (Eye 1169).

Ms Law’s real offence was to call in police to investigate allegations of corruption surrounding Mayor Martin Winter’s pet regeneration project, the Glass Park – but her accusers are concentrating on more heinous crimes, such as “the cancellation of the civic ball” and an allegation that Law could not always be relied on to say “Hello” in the corridor.

The council is receiving legal advice from solicitor Mark Greenburgh of Wragge and Co. In 2003 he advised Lincolnshire’s Tory leader Ian Croft on how to get rid of chief executive David Bowles as revenge for Bowles blowing the whistle on Croft’s corrupt predecessor Jim Speechley (Eyes passim). Greenburgh’s advice ended up costing the taxpayer more than £580,000, including a £400,000 payoff for Bowles and Wragge’s bill for £168,000. Oh, and Croft had to resign in disgrace. There may be a lesson there for Mayor Winter, but we’re darned if we can see it!

Private Eye No 1172 24th November 2006

 

RICHES TO WRAGGES (cont.)

Will solicitor Mark Greenburgh’s attempt to prove a “misconduct” case against Doncaster council’s managing director Susan Law prove to be third time unlucky for his firm, Wragge & Co?

Wragges has been hired to stand up allegations of “bullying” against Ms Law, who has barely been in the job two years. Her supporters claim the real motive behind the move to get rid of her is Mayor Martin Winter’s annoyance at the fact that she called in Knacker to investigate allegations of corruption surrounding Winter’s pet regeneration project, the Glass Park (Eyes passin).

Eye 1172 recalled how in 2003 Wragges ran up a bill of £168,000 in an attempt to make a case against another whistle blowing chief executive, David Bowles, at Tory Lincolnshire county council. He eventually left with £400,000 payoff. The affair cost the taxpayer more than £580,000 and council leader Ian Croft his job.

Wragges’ most recent triumph was in north-east Derbyshire last year. In February 2005 the Labour council’s leader, David Nuttall, was bared from holding public office for three years after a Standards Board investigation found he bullied staff and interfered in wage negotiations so as to confer an “improper advantage” on his son, who worked for the council (Eye 1127). Because the chief executive, Carol Gilby, had given evidence against Nuttall, councilors sought revenge by accusing her of incompetence and “misconduct”. Wragges’ Mark Greenburgh headed the case against her. Tim Kerr QC was appointed at a cost of £93,000 to adjudicate. His report concluded that Wragges’ evidence was “surprisingly weak” and there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Ms Gilby, who should be reinstated. By this stage the attempted chief execicide had cost the council £633,000, including Wragges’ fee of £284,931. But then Ms Gilby decided she didn’t want her job back after all, and received a £350,00 payoff. By the time the council had spent £50,000 looking for a replacement, the total bill picked up by the taxpayer came to £1,033,167 and 10p.

Come on, Donny – you can top that!

Private Eye No.1174 22nd December 2006