Sheffield City Council has apologised ‘unreservedly’ after a report found the authority mishandled a dispute over the felling of thousands of healthy trees.
In an open apology, chief executive Kate Josephs and leader Tom Hunt admitted a ‘dismissive approach,’ said the council ‘withheld too much information for too long’ and took an ‘unwisely punitive approach to contract managing Amey’.
The pair said the council’s political leadership was ‘not well enough supported by senior officers and the executive who should have focused on helping the politicians resolve the dispute rather than sticking steadfastly to a flawed programme’.
They wrote: ‘Once the dispute emerged, a lack of corporate oversight, control and leadership meant the escalating approach went unchecked for too long.
‘We understand that due to the council’s behaviour some people will never forgive Sheffield City Council, and have lost trust and faith in us.'
'We hope that this apology will begin the process of restoring trust and faith.
‘The action the council took damaged Sheffield’s reputation in a way that casts a long shadow.
‘We recognise trust is earned and we have work to do to get to a place where faith is restored.
'Failing and making mistakes is a part of life, but refusing to listen and learn is a mistake we can never repeat.’
