Dorset Council has released an internal audit showing that eleven interim officers were dismissed after a series of failures around health and safety work carried out between 2022 and 2024.
The report, made public today, highlights serious issues in how contracts were awarded and money was spent. It says officers bypassed financial rules, gave work to a small number of favoured contractors, and submitted inflated or unjustified costs — including one case where £300 was charged for work worth only £20.
A planned budget of £4 million rose to £13 million, with overall costs for health and safety compliance work in council buildings reaching around £28 million over several years. The report says proper checks were not carried out when those buildings were passed to Dorset Council in 2019.
The investigation found gaps in record keeping, non-compliance with policies, and examples of undeclared gifts and hospitality. Councillor Simon Clifford, who now oversees finance, said he was dismayed at the spending and that further investigations would be needed.
The report also says councillors were not properly informed at the time, limiting their ability to scrutinise what was happening. The issues came to light after the Liberal Democrats took control in 2024 and began reviewing unexplained transactions.
Dorset Council says a new team is now in place with stronger oversight and new procedures. A public meeting to discuss the findings is expected in October.