THE city council has vowed not to be complacent as it bounces back from a damning report that uncovered allegations of bullying, poor management and inappropriate leadership behaviour.

The allegations were revealed in a learning review into the working culture at Brighton and Hove City Council, commissioned in the wake of the dismissal of former director for housing Jugal Sharma over claims of gross misconduct.

The council’s audit and standards committee met at Portslade Town Hall last night to discuss the report, which was carried out by a former chief executive of Hertfordshire County Council, Caroline Tapster.

Tom Druitt, a Green councillor on the committee, said some of the points in the report were “reasonably damning”.

He said: “It’s clear that [Ms Tapster] has found some reasonably damning things that have been going on and she’s not that confident that we are on top of it now.”

Cllr Druitt wanted to know why several staff members had been unsuccessful in the past when raising concerns about bullying and poor management behaviour, feeling they had not been listened to.

In response an officer said a new whistleblower policy was already in place and that it was already generating complaints.

Another officer said whistleblowing was a “really important thing” and that it should be encouraged.

Labour councillor Alan Robins drew attention to part of the report that said the relationship between officers and councillors had become too informal.

He said: “It’s a very thin line we are asking people to walk here.

"If we don’t challenge officers enough, people might think we are not doing enough but if we challenge them too vigorously we can be accused of bullying.

"I would hate to think that as a member I could become nervous of being accused of bullying.”

Green councillor Ollie Sykes said: “It’s fair to say we are in a much better position now than ten years ago – but it happens so often when an organisation says, ‘It won’t happen again.’

"It comes across as a little bit complacent.”

Committee chairwoman Ann Norman said she felt things were different now but that the council could not be complacent.

The committee agreed to note the report, in doing so reiterating that the council had already implemented some of the recommendations.