An extensive, independent investigation into the relocation of Doncaster Bloodstock Sales and Doncaster Council’s part in it reveals “no breach of internal procedures or statutory requirements.”
The terms agreed for the move were also “commercially sound and represented value for money for the Council”, says the report, compiled by Dr. Joan Rees, former executive director of sustainable communities for Redcar and Cleveland Council.
Dr. Rees, who was chosen to carry out the review following interview of a number of top level candidates said, “In regard to the motives of those individuals who were involved in negotiating the deal with DBS, I have found no evidence whatsoever of inappropriate or suspect motives.”
The 44 page report is available to view below in pdf format.
Dr. Rees highlighted some procedural matters that would benefit from tightening and a better method of calculating land value. Mayor Martin Winter said the report recommendations would be complied with in full.
He commented, “Though I personally had no involvement whatsoever in the DBS relocation, this being undertaken by officers as part of their day to day activity, there has been a lot of conjecture and innuendo surrounding the movement of the Bloodstock Sales.
This full, scrupulously independent report, commissioned by Council Managing Director, Paul Hart, underlines the transaction was good business for Doncaster and involved nothing illegal or underhand. In my view, this should be the end of the matter.”
The movement of the Bloodstock Sales from Carr House Road to the racecourse proper freed up the existing site for development for residential use and as outlined in the report brought “a strong suite of public benefits gained from the relocation. These included economic, environmental and highway benefits,” for instance highly strung thoroughbred racehorses not having to cross a very busy public road.
