(Title Image: © Copyright Jaggery and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence BY-SA-2.0)
As has been reported elsewhere, another town & community council in Bridgend county is being investigated by auditors and South Wales Police due to the management of their accounts.
Audit Wales is currently undertaking an in-depth examination of Porthcawl Town Council’s accounts for 2019-20.
In a statement, Porthcawl Town Council added:
“Audit Wales have now arrived at a position where they will need to interview members and staff of the Council to gain a complete view of certain events and decisions. However, Audit Wales have some concerns which could potentially fall outside of their remit to consider and bring to a conclusion.
“Audit Wales have consulted with South Wales Police to see if it would be appropriate to progress to interviews. South Wales Police have advised that they will now be taking this matter forward. Audit Wales and Porthcawl Town Council will assist South Wales Police fully with their enquiries.”
There’s no indication yet on precisely why the accounts are being audited in-depth. However, minutes from the town council’s finance committee from June 2020 (pdf) imply they were having problems with their appointed internal auditor who had to be replaced for failing to meet obligations.
In September 2020 (pdf), at an extraordinary full council meeting the town council agreed to fully introduce One Voice Wales (the body which represents town and community councils) financial regulations and improve financial training for members.
The accounts themselves are seemingly unavailable at the moment.
Porthcawl Town Council – which is controlled politically by Independents – is the second community council in Bridgend county to be investigated in this way after a highly critical audit of Maesteg Town Council during 2020.
As usual, any involvement of the police or auditors isn’t proof of wrongdoing.
Given there’s a desire to see town and community councils rationalised/merged, I’d repeat what I said last time: “….if they (community councillors) can’t behave like grown-ups and address serious matters such as those emerging in Maesteg with the appropriate candour, accountability and willingness to properly report on and learn from mistakes, then they’re hardly making a strong case to take on a greater role and are probably threatening their long-term survival.”
