A DAMNING report into the bullying of staff at Ryedale District Council (RDC) has been made public - nearly two years after it was completed.

The investigation, which was carried out by Professor John Raine and Eileen Dunstan, has been released following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the Gazette & Herald.

It follows a commission by RDC’s overview and scrutiny committee to gather evidence in support of the committee’s investigation into allegations of bullying and mistreatment of staff.

The committee took the view that due to the sensitively of the subject, it was appropriate to seek independent advice.

Evidence was gathered from an anonymous online survey targeted at all staff on the council’s current payroll and then with the opportunity for follow-up interviews.

The report acknowledged that as with all councils, the past few years had been particularly tough in terms of budgetary cutbacks because of national austerity.

RDC had also undergone a major restructure in April 2017 with a reduction in staff and increased pressure for those remaining with the result that two-thirds of respondents to the survey felt staff morale to be quite, or very low and only 11 per cent quite or very high.

The report, which was completed in May 2018, said “a plethora of reasons” were given by those perceiving morale to be low.

One staff member commented that there was poor management. “We are always being expected to do more with fewer people, staff are being treated differently and there is a culture of bullying,” they added.

The report said that more than a third of respondents were aware of one or more incidents of mistreatment and a further two in five being aware that allegations had been made.

Another staff member said: “I am aware of two situations with two different members of staff.

“One of the officers left RDC and I think this issue was a large element in why that person left. The last time I saw this person they were extremely distressed. Then they were gone.”

The report said that several interviewees, all from the same department, had recounted in detail some particularly “unpleasant” and “hurtful incidents” they had to endure.

It added: “We also gained the clear sense that much of this intimidating behaviour was subtle and coercive, reducing a number to tears on multiple occasions and in two cases, we were told, invoking suicidal feelings of despair.”

The report found that negative behaviour was also made by elected members with bullying witnessed in council meetings.

One respondent said: “I think the members need to consider their own behaviour and their bullying and sexist threats and comments.”

Another added: “Councillors show no respect for staff and openly challenge them in an aggressive and confrontational way.”

Stacey Burlet, RDC’s chief executive, who joined the authority in 2018, said: “The report is about historic incidents of negative behaviour at RDC, including bullying. But despite the fact that these incidents are in the past, we can’t be complacent.

“We have no place for bullies or bullying at the council, and we are absolutely united on a zero tolerance approach to such behaviour.

“Action has been taken to deal with specific issues, and we’re taking steps to build on the positive, family feeling we have at RDC.

“We have a new people and culture plan, which staff helped to create, and which is generating results.

“New policies to strengthen how we tackle inappropriate behaviour will go before our policy and resources committee next month.

“We’re fully focused on how we value and support our great staff team, so that they can do the best possible job for the citizens of Ryedale.”