BREAKDOWNS in relationships between officers and members brought a council into disrepute, an independent report has said.

The annual audit and inspection letter about the troubled Richmondshire District Council says councillors should be trained on the code of conduct and reminded regularly of their duties.

The authority has been beset by political in-fighting for the past two years, mainly linked to its proposed move from Richmond to new headquarters at Colburn.

Relationships deteriorated last year amid accusations that some members had bullied officers.

In his report, district auditor Mark Kirkham said: "The breakdown in relationships and the events that have taken place have brought the council and local government into disrepute."

He said the deterioration of working relationships posed "a major risk to effective corporate governance".

He also said the behaviour of members fell "well below the standards the public has a right to expect".

A special council meeting on April 26 will consider Mr Kirkham's recommendation that councillors should get training to improve conduct and that measures should be put in place to ensure the code is followed.

The authority's management was restructured last month, with five senior managers opting for early retirement.

But Mr Kirkham said he saw insufficient explanation of the financial savings expected from the changes.

The report congratulated the council on an overall improvement in services, good performance on planning issues and housing, extension of its community office network and achieving national recycling targets.

Councillor John Blackie, council leader, accepted political wrangling had damaged the council's public reputation.

But he rejected claims that it had brought local government into disrepute.

The code of conduct training would help strengthen the fresh start pledged by all members earlier this year, he said.

"In May, we will have a new council - 12 members are retiring and others may not be re-elected.

"That is an opportunity for fresh perspectives," said Coun Blackie.

"We had already agreed to do compulsory 'dignity at work' training, which every member must attend.

"We will further strengthen this along the lines which the auditor recommends."