The report has been withheld from the public since August 2021
An allegedly highly critical report about South Kesteven District Council will remain “secret” for another two months – taking it over a year since it was first received, a Freedom of Information Request has revealed.
The request, made by Phil Gadd on May 31, asked when the report – which was commissioned to review how decisions and scrutiny at the council worked – would be presented to the public.
The SKDC-commissioned review was carried out by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny which was by an independent auditor. The request also confirmed the review cost £5,520 to produce.
In his request, Mr Gadd said: “The people of SKDC were promised open, honest & transparent governance.
“However, months later we are still denied the opportunity to see the results.”
SKDC’s response said “the final report will be published over the next couple of months, together with an action plan.”
It promised the document would be published “in its entirety with no redactions”.
“Work has been taking place to consider the recommendations contained within the review and develop an action plan for implementing areas recommended for improvement,” the authority added.
The report, received on August 31, 2021, was previously questioned by Independent Councillors Ashley Baxter and Phil Dilks in April after nearly nine months of being hidden.
If the FOI is correct, it could take the length of time since the report was received to over a year.
At the time, Councillor Baxter said: “Taxpayers deserve openness and transparency.
“That’s why I wanted to share the secret report with the press and public but was warned not to by the council’s monitoring officer.”
He said the report made “some positive comments” but added it “also highlights massive gaps”.
It is understood Councillor Baxter is continuing with his enquries following the latest request.
SKDC was asked for additional comment but a spokesman said it had “nothing to add to this”.
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He spent three days on the run
Gary Butcher. | Photo: Lincolnshire Police
A dangerous sex offender who went on the run from police for three days after absconding from an open prison in Lincolnshire pre-booked a taxi to make his escape, a court heard.
Gary Butcher, 55, who is serving a life sentence for burglary after being jailed in 1995, absconded from HMP North Sea Camp near Boston on May 31.
Police previously said that after further enquiries they could confirm that his previous offending also included a number of serious sexual offences towards women.
After appearing at Derby Crown Court, Butcher has now been ordered to serve an extra six months in jail.
Butcher flagged down a passing police car and approached an officer from Derbyshire Constabulary in the Swadlincote area of Derbyshire to hand himself in on June 3.
He was later charged with escape of lawful custody and was returned to a closed condition prison.
At the time Lincolnshire Police also said that a 56-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. The man was also an inmate at HMP North Sea Camp, but never left the prison himself and was returned to closed prison conditions.
Butcher has since pleaded guilty at Derby Crown Court to escaping lawful custody.
Prosecutor Adam Pearson told the court Butcher booked a taxi from his cell using an illegal mobile phone the night before he escaped, according to the BBC.
He then stole a bicycle from the prison just after midnight and rode to Boston where he was taken by the taxi to Coalville in Leicestershire.
He paid £150 for the journey with cash he had withdrawn earlier, the barrister said.
Butcher’s escape was only discovered when his cell was found empty the following morning.
Mr Pearson said Butcher absconded as he was worried he would be returned to a closed prison after losing his job on the prison farm.
Defence barrister Lewis Kerr disputed the reason for escape saying that his client had been shown indecent images by another prisoner and decided to abscond as he felt he could not report it to prison authorities.
Judge Penelope Stanistreet-Keen said the reason why Butcher left was “immaterial” and that him “being at large would cause consternation with the public”.
Raising over £30k for local charities
Teams outside Lincoln Rugby Club getting ready for the C2C2C cycle ride on June 30. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Over 500 riders took part in the annual C2C2C 100-mile bike ride across the county to raise over £30,000 for local charities and good causes.
All the entry donations from the 536 riders raised around £25,000 which will be donated to local charities. In addition, 24 riders raised an extra £9,000 sponsorship for St Barnabas Hospice in its 40th birthday.
The riders started the ride during the morning of Thursday, June 30 from Lincoln Rugby Club on Lodge Lane in Nettleham before taking in some of the area’s most beautiful landscapes in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
The team from Stokes Tea. Left to right – Darren Bavin, Nick Peel, Paul Coulson, Jack Pearce, and Crispin Victoria. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
They then headed to the coast at Saltfleet before the exhausted riders made their way back to Lincoln Rugby Club later the same day.
The cycling event known as Castle 2 Coast 2 Castle (C2C2C for short) happens ever year and the 2021 ride raised £30,000.
Members of the Stokes Tea & Coffee team were among the riders and kept the other cyclists caffeinated with coffee stations along the route too during what was a very successful event.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite