On Monday Evening The Chairman of Oakham Town Council conducted himself
in very unprofessional unlawful manner he should resign.
Monday's special meeting was held after the council finally accepted the 2014 - 2015
accounts were incorrect.
This Monday the Chairman, Councillor Alf Dewis wanted members to rubber
stamp an amended statement of accounts to be sent to Grant Thorton.
He banned me from speaking and unlawfully excluded me from the meeting.
he and other Councillors conducted council business in the Clerk's office.
This was unlawful because the meeting had been adjourned, the council's
legal advisors have told them all business conducted from the point of adjournment
was unlawful.
On Tuesday Morning Cllr Elliot did a little more digging into the accounts
and found what is described as minor inaccuracies.
Cllr Adam Lowe the deputy Chairman had to remind Councillor
Dewis he does not run Oakham Town Council and told Cllr Dewis he can not
call in auditors without the consent of the full council and he must inform
all councillors about Tuesday mornings developments.
Despite this he states in his email he is meeting with the firm in the next few
days.
Personally I think the police should be called in because since I pointed out
one simple error at a council meeting on the 10th June 2015 the Chairman
has acted in a way that suggests to me the council has something to hide
perhaps fraud?
This evening I am completing formal documents supplied by Grant Thorton
and returning one to them another will be served on Oakham Town Council in the
morning,
A copy sent to Leicestershire Police, who probably won't know what to
do with it!
The documents are a formal notice of objection to Oakham Town Councils
2014 -2015
Since 2010 I have pointed out the unprofessional way the accounts are
prepared and produced and in return Oakham Town Council and its
few supporters have given me a lot of crap.
In 2009 the Town Council was told by external auditors they were to
close to their internal auditor and they were replaced by a man
who did not even sign his audit report until I mentioned it at
public deputations last year.
Delayed Communication received late today from the Chairman of Oakham Town
Council Alf Dewis:
Dear Colleague
On Tuesday morning, following Monday's meeting, it was brought to my attention by Michael Elliott that there still remained some minor inaccuracies in the accounts that we had approved the previous evening. I therefore instructed that the accounts should not be sent to Grant Thornton, our external auditors, until the inaccuracies were corrected. This means that the Council will fail to meet last Tuesday's deadline for submission. Acknowledging this I am more concerned that we submit correctly stated accounts.
During further discussion with Michael concern arose about whether there were other inaccuracies in the accounts so together we contacted Grant Thornton to advise them of the late submission and to ascertain if they could undertake an investigation. As they are the external auditors they were unable to undertake that exercise but we have subsequently found a firm of accountants versed in local government accounting procedures, not based in Oakham, who we will be meeting in the next few days.
Any external investigation will be at a cost to the Council therefore there will be an agenda item on next week's Council meeting to update and to obtain authorisation for the expenditure.
I will keep you advised of developments.
Regards
Alf
in very unprofessional unlawful manner he should resign.
Monday's special meeting was held after the council finally accepted the 2014 - 2015
accounts were incorrect.
This Monday the Chairman, Councillor Alf Dewis wanted members to rubber
stamp an amended statement of accounts to be sent to Grant Thorton.
He banned me from speaking and unlawfully excluded me from the meeting.
he and other Councillors conducted council business in the Clerk's office.
This was unlawful because the meeting had been adjourned, the council's
legal advisors have told them all business conducted from the point of adjournment
was unlawful.
On Tuesday Morning Cllr Elliot did a little more digging into the accounts
and found what is described as minor inaccuracies.
Cllr Adam Lowe the deputy Chairman had to remind Councillor
Dewis he does not run Oakham Town Council and told Cllr Dewis he can not
call in auditors without the consent of the full council and he must inform
all councillors about Tuesday mornings developments.
Despite this he states in his email he is meeting with the firm in the next few
days.
Personally I think the police should be called in because since I pointed out
one simple error at a council meeting on the 10th June 2015 the Chairman
has acted in a way that suggests to me the council has something to hide
perhaps fraud?
This evening I am completing formal documents supplied by Grant Thorton
and returning one to them another will be served on Oakham Town Council in the
morning,
A copy sent to Leicestershire Police, who probably won't know what to
do with it!
The documents are a formal notice of objection to Oakham Town Councils
2014 -2015
Since 2010 I have pointed out the unprofessional way the accounts are
prepared and produced and in return Oakham Town Council and its
few supporters have given me a lot of crap.
In 2009 the Town Council was told by external auditors they were to
close to their internal auditor and they were replaced by a man
who did not even sign his audit report until I mentioned it at
public deputations last year.
Delayed Communication received late today from the Chairman of Oakham Town
Council Alf Dewis:
Dear Colleague
On Tuesday morning, following Monday's meeting, it was brought to my attention by Michael Elliott that there still remained some minor inaccuracies in the accounts that we had approved the previous evening. I therefore instructed that the accounts should not be sent to Grant Thornton, our external auditors, until the inaccuracies were corrected. This means that the Council will fail to meet last Tuesday's deadline for submission. Acknowledging this I am more concerned that we submit correctly stated accounts.
During further discussion with Michael concern arose about whether there were other inaccuracies in the accounts so together we contacted Grant Thornton to advise them of the late submission and to ascertain if they could undertake an investigation. As they are the external auditors they were unable to undertake that exercise but we have subsequently found a firm of accountants versed in local government accounting procedures, not based in Oakham, who we will be meeting in the next few days.
Any external investigation will be at a cost to the Council therefore there will be an agenda item on next week's Council meeting to update and to obtain authorisation for the expenditure.
I will keep you advised of developments.
Regards
Alf
