Let Operation Whitewash Begin!
The not so “Forensic Audit”, Straight from the Book of Kenyon and Draper.
Readers may remember the Town Council passing the resolution for the Council to be subjected to Forensic audit including of course it’s financial transactions and it’s IT equipment, as well as written documentation or did Ferret dream it?
Well Ferret can definitely remember Mr Draper and Mr Kenyon trying very hard to get out of it and trying to utilise a local firm to “save money”.
Oh and everything that this community wanted answers to, would be passed via Mr Alan Draper the Town Clerk, who would coordinate and liaise with the Forensic auditors……….
At the time Ferret did a post of the dangers of this and why it was unacceptable, yet for some strange reason Ferret has learned that none of the concerns have been remedied and even worse Mr Draper has made the decision who the auditor will be and surprise surprise it’s not even a Forensic specialist.
It can be likened to the poacher becoming the gamekeeper or criminals undertaking their own police investigation.
Perhaps this auditor also came “recommended”
Apparently some councillors, (names will remain anonymous at this time to save their embarrassment), believe the investigation is in safe hands under the guardianship of Alan Draper and Jim Kenyon as “they would never try to subvert such an inquiry.”
Ferret remembers very distinctly the partners in crime also known as Draper and Kenyon, arranging a survey into the asbestos and rubbish that was buried in the Waterpark.
They laid out the terms of reference very clearly to the firm engaged to do the survey and report.
Two Items were very clear indeed:
- Undisturbed Soil only
- They even showed them the areas to be tested that surprisingly were not the areas of concern.
So yes, we could rest assured when no asbestos was found and they could wipe the sweat off their brows but not the smirks off their faces.
It has now been raised that minutes posted by Mr Draper, a legal document, do not match the recorded meeting decisions and we are well aware of their reluctance and refusal to share information that should be freely and readily available to this community.
Ferret won’t mention the lack of public consultation or denial of freedom of speech.
Ferret hopes that the Councillors will relook at this urgently and demand the following of Terms of reference or something similar or better, will be put in place.
If Kenyon’s cabal refuse they should boycott the whole debacle, until they have a controlling majority of votes or even leave it until after next year’s elections if necessary, where the public will speak loud and clear at the ballot boxes and provide the necessary mandate.
- Honesty, Openness, and Transparency must be key to this process
- The Town Council will appoint a truly “Independent” Person with the required amount of expertise to act as a liaison between the Community, Councillors and Specialist Forensic auditor and IT experts etc.
- The Terms of reference will be agreed by the whole council and used to start a process to find suitably qualified firm(s)
The Terms of reference should include:
- A specification for exactly what the investigators needs to cover and how the investigation should be conducted.
- The legality of all payments made
- That correct procedures were always followed for, procurement, purchases and tender processes.
Procurement fraud is any fraud relating to the purchasing of goods and services. It covers the entire procure-to-pay lifecycle, including fraud in the tender / bidder selection and contract award stages (for example, illicit cartel activity or bribery of an official to influence the tendering process) as well as fraud occurring during the life of the contract (for example, false, duplicate or double invoicing).
- All purchases including petty cash, were identified, receipts and recorded correctly.
- VAT was only paid on legally registered accounts.
- Business plans were in place and if proper processes were in place to ensure value for money
- Risk management assessments were made and in place as required.
Not only should legalities be looked at, the investigation should as a priority also investigate whether all the dealings of Hemsworth Town Council have adhered to the Nolan Principles
1. The Seven Principles of Public Life
The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder. This includes all those who are elected or appointed to public office, nationally and locally, and all people appointed to work in the Civil Service, local government, the police, courts and probation services, non-departmental public bodies, and in the health, education, social and care services. All public office-holders are both servants of the public and stewards of public resources. The principles also apply to all those in other sectors delivering public services.
1.1 Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
1.2 Integrity
Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
1.3 Objectivity
Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
1.4 Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
1.5 Openness
Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
1.6 Honesty
Holders of public office should be truthful.
1.7 Leadership
Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.
Councillors, this community deserves answers to very serious questions and issues. Ferret believes simply taking someone’s word or believing they will act appropriately, when they are already aware they have breached the code or worse, is in itself a breach of the Nolan Principles.
As our elected representatives, this community expects you to deliver those answers and will not accept any less from you or any investigation.
If you are still in any doubts about Kenyon’s motives, ask yourselves why he’s developed a sudden reluctance to want to spend our money on specialist services, when he himself is going to be under investigation…
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