There were ‘major corporate governance failures’ in the way South Ribble Borough Council handled a safeguarding review.
A review by the council's scrutiny committee task group found the council showed a ‘lack of regard’ to safeguarding policies and highlighted ‘weak political and senior management leadership’.
It came after an investigation in June found ‘serious concerns’ over the way South Ribble BC dealt with external taxi licensing.
The draft report - to be put to the scrutiny committee tonight - found it ‘inexplicable’ why the chief executive and council leader had allowed themselves to be excluded from having ‘anything to do with the licensing service’ without challenging the decision.
Chairman of South Ribble BC’s scrutiny committee, Cllr Mick Titherington, said the ‘reluctance of some members and officers’ to engage in the investigation had caused him ‘grave concern’.
South Ribble BC leader, Cllr Peter Mullineaux, said: ‘Whilst this is a draft report, and still has to be considered by the scrutiny committee and debated at full council, we have already started to develop a robust action plan and work is underway to address each and every one of the recommendations.