Mayor loses vote of no confidence

Mr Winter was Doncaster's first elected mayor in 2002

Doncaster's elected mayor has lost a vote of no confidence as police said they were investigating how some council contracts had been awarded.

Martin Winter said he would not resign despite losing Monday's vote by 42 votes to eight, with seven abstentions, and vowed to stand for a third term.

He dismissed the vote as part of a political campaign to "vilify" him.

Meanwhile, South Yorkshire Police said its inquiry was related to contracts awarded by Doncaster council in 2005.

Two months ago, an Audit Commission report found that the council had failed to meet expected standards of governance because of tensions between the mayor and the authority's former managing director, Susan Law.

In 2006, Ms Law sparked a police inquiry into allegations about Mr Winter's involvement in a regeneration scheme. Prosecutors decided there was no case to answer.

Shortly afterwards, Ms Law faced allegations about her conduct and eventually left the council by mutual agreement with a �120,000 payout.

'Campaign to vilify'

On Tuesday, a police statement said: "Following a complaint made to South Yorkshire Police an investigation has been launched concerning the awarding of contracts at Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council involving former officers of the council referred to in the recent Audit Commission Public Interest Report.

"The investigation is in the early stages and it would be inappropriate to comment further."

Monday's vote of no confidence was proposed by the authority's Independent Alliance.

The motion said: "To protect the integrity of the council and elected members and the communities they represent, this council supports a vote of no confidence in the elected mayor's style of leadership and conduct, which conflicts with the best interests of this council."

Mr Winter has been twice-elected since 2002, but Labour rules do not allow someone to run for a third time.

He announced he was forming a new party on 12 May and was sacked from the Labour group at a council meeting on 28 May.

After losing Monday's vote, Mr Winter said: "I will complete my second term... and the people of Doncaster will have the opportunity to vote me in again, if they wish to, next June.

"It is my view that that motion today was only damaging for Doncaster, was the continuation of a politically-orchestrated campaign to vilify the mayor."

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