Oakham Town Council Internal Audit Council Reserves

when I was a Town Councillor I told the bullying sexist chairman Michael Haley the councils
reserves policy was incorrect.

I have recently questioned why the council currently holds of twice it's annual income
in bank accounts.

The Internal auditor has made these comments about Michael Haley's 'perfect system'


That the Reserves Policy is
reviewed to remove references
and data relating to specific
earmarked reserves for 2017.
i.e. a more generic type policy.

2 (OFI) The current policy includes
details of earmarked reserves
applicable to the year the policy
was adopted, and which and which may no
longer be applicable.


Michael Haley's system accepted by the full council is flawed and it is interesting the internal auditor
has not been more blunt.

The council basically has to explain very soon to the external auditor why it has so much money.

It is unlawful for the town council to save money just in case they need it, one reason the Clerk
Allison Greaves gave when the reserves were considered at a recent meeting of the council

At the last meeting I asked durring my public deputation for an explanation for the excessive amount of our money held in the council accounts the clerk simply responded 'because we have not spent it yet.

The main problem is Oakham Town Council do not know how to budget and pick random figures out of the air each year and do not take into consideration any end of year surplus under any budget heading at the end of the year.

one example it the tree budget one year the former tree warden asks for around £15,000 and the money is not spent and then asks for a budget of around £12,000 for the new financial year and this is then demanded from the tax payers and the previous years money is left sitting in the bank account.

I do believe Michael Haley and some other member knew this was wrong, but instead of spending the money for something that would benefit the tax payers of Oakham he decided to make up a list of earmarked reserves in an attempt to hide the fact the council is incapable of managing it finances correctly.