An independent investigator will be appointed to look in to the behaviour of council employees following last week's decision by Cheshire East Council's Audit and Governance Committee, regarding Lyme Green.
A review of the Council's proposal to build a recycling station at Lyme Green Depot in Macclesfield, published on June 7th, revealed that the aborted plans have cost Cheshire East taxpayers over £800,000.
The report also confirmed that planning rules were broken, as the main contractor commenced work on the site three weeks before a planning application was submitted, officers did not comply with EU Procurement Regulations or ensure there was effective reporting to members of the council.
They also spent beyond the approved budget on the scheme breaking Finance and Contract Procedure Rules. The approved capital budget for the scheme was £650,000 but the total anticipated spend for the Lyme Green scheme at mid-May was £810,000.
Michael Jones, Leader of the Council, today announced that he has sent to all members of the Staffing Committee, the CVs of four independent candidates to instigate investigations into staff behaviour. He has also issued instructions that in the absence of the Chief Executive, who remains off work, ill, the terms of reference will be set by the full cross-party Staffing Committee and that those terms of reference will be published.
Councillor Jones said "The investigator, once appointed will be encouraged to meet with all the staff mentioned in the report, Members, Cabinet Members and their support Members and any other appropriate witness."
The decisions were taken at an extraordinary informal Cabinet meeting, convened to respond to the recommendations made by the Audit and Governance Committee.
Councillor Jones continued: "This issue is so important to me and the Members of my Cabinet, I felt it was essential that actions must be taken and made public with the utmost urgency. This issue is too important and I feel it is necessary to move things along as quickly as possible. It is inconceivable to me that any member of the Council will question this line of action but it is necessary that everything we do regarding Lyme Green is open and transparent.
"The Council's reputation is being seriously undermined and I want to assure every resident that the fullest independent investigation will take place to review the conduct of staff mentioned in the report into Lyme Green.
"Many changes have already been introduced to prevent any reoccurrence of such a failure of the processes of the Council. However, it is only after the independent investigation has been concluded that the Council will be in a position to address some of the potential cultural and constitutional changes that I, and I am sure, other Members envisage being necessary.
"The draft recommendation reads: 'The Council, in accordance with its staffing policies, instigate an immediate independent review of the conduct of staff mentioned in the report and consider whether there is a case for appropriate disciplinary or other action to be pursued, the review to include consideration of whether the public or any Members were misled and an examination of the nature of the Council's communication with the public'.
"I wish to applaud all the members of the Audit and Governance Committee, in particular the chairman, John Hammond, and the officers involved in putting the report together, for the thoroughness and impartiality they showed in examining the details surrounding the events concerning Lyme Green.
"It was essential that this report was discussed fully, in public, so that every resident, especially those who live near the Lyme Green site, could be assured nothing was being hidden. The only way we can now deal with this regrettable position is by showing openness at every stage."
Comments
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How many high ranking civil servants have turned a blind eye to these proceedings before it got stopped?
One assumes that the people putting out tables and chairs without planning permission are just following the Council's example with the Lyme Green waste transfer scheme. If you want to do it and you think you can get away with it, just do it. At least these coffee shops and restaurants are not costing council taxpayers £810,000 in an arrogant, aborted, illegal act, nor are they paid vast amounts of money to serve and protect the residents of Cheshire East.
Clearly, obstructing some pavement areas may be dangerous and improper and should be stopped. But let's not lose sight of the bigger picture in Cheshire East please. Check out Stuart Redgard's post (on one of Lisa Reeve's other excellent sites) about how you can complain to the Audit Commissioner for Cheshire East about the waste transfer matter. http://www.wilmslow.co.uk/news/article/6480/aborted-recycling-centre-costs-taxpayers-800000
Surely someone will be enquiring about the role of these two high-powered members of the Cheshire East cabal? Come on Wesley and the Wenzel, you were a very close team - tell us what you were up to. Or weren't you paying enough attention to notice what was going on? Surely £230,000 a year is enough to capture your attention Ms Wenzel? And you're still a councillor Mr Fitzgerald. You always had plenty to say, so step up and speak out now please. People want to hear why you didn't notice what illegalities were going on with their money.