One councilor has turned both barrels on his own authority as the aftermath of two highly critical reports continued.
At the extraordinary Northumberland County Council meeting on Wednesday, members debated a section 114 notice issued after the council’s chief financial officer discovered illegal spending.
The money was related to the council’s international health consultancy work, as well as an annual grant of £ 40,000 paid to the council’s executive director, Daljit Lally, as “international subsistence” in connection with the work.
Read more:Northumberland County Council “embarrassed” leader apologizes for illegal spending
Members were told it was a very unusual step for a local authority; Deputy Leader Richard Wearmouth said: “This is not a course of action that has been taken lightly. The report makes it difficult to read and highlights the serious failures in terms of governance over a number of years.”
Jan Willis, section 151 officer and chief financial officer, added: “The issuance of a section 114 report is uncommon in local government. It is not something that any CFO should do lightly.
“The reason it’s rare is because there are processes in most councils that ensure that councils don’t make illegal decisions, and in Northumberland, they have failed.”
Members were told that the best estimate for the council’s international business was that it had made a profit of about £ 800,000 over the years, but Ms Willis noted that it was impossible to know due to the fact that it was almost non-existent. no record had been kept.
The debate came just moments after the council had been criticized for the Max Caller report on governance in authority.
The board’s leadership faced criticism from councilor Derek Kennedy, the leader of the independent group.
Coun Kennedy said: “What a day we’ve had. We’ve seen this town hall shattered. It’s outrageous and embarrassing.
“It simply came to our notice then. We’ve heard a lot about what’s wrong. Agents go their own way and ignore board members, financial records are not kept.
“What’s going on? I’m amazed at what we’ve heard today. It’s been a tummy tuck today.
“This advice is a disgrace to Northumberland County and the people of that county with the way we conduct our business and the way we conduct our finances.
“We have to do something and do something quickly.”
Other members said they had faced allegations of bullying and other personal attacks as they tried to learn more about international business.
Former council leader Peter Jackson revealed that he had raised issues and had been subjected to personal attacks.
He said: “I have never hesitated in my quest to expose the truth. This is despite being subjected to personal attacks.
“I made complaints in 2020 and I think we have been disappointed by a group of officers acting against the interests of councilors, and the people of Northumberland have been disappointed.”
Former cabinet member Nick Oliver added: “Good officers who are concerned about this business and other matters have been expelled from the council. Officers, unfortunately, are sometimes known as missing persons, and should be a source of shame for all of us who have done nothing more to protect them.
“Their careers and family lives have been turned upside down to do nothing but ask legitimate questions or offer the softest challenge.”
Coun Oliver also doubted that the company had made money and suggested that “lavish” sums of money had been spent on flights to places like Dubai and China.
Despite the allegations made by councilors, Ms Willis had made it clear that the aim of her report was not to “point the finger” and recommended that a full and independent investigation into the illegal spending be carried out.
In a rare show of unity, councilors unanimously agreed to approve the recommendations and continue the investigation.
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