Divisions over call for further inquiry into RBWM finances

Councillors have clashed over a decision not to further investigate decisions which left the Royal Borough’s finances ‘severely compromised’.

At a full council meeting on Tuesday, members were presented with a report summarising the findings of financial reviews carried out by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and external auditors in recent years.

These reviews identified a litany of past failures, including ‘poor corporate culture’ and management, ‘weak financial governance and oversight’, ‘inadequate reserves’ and underfunding caused by previous council tax cuts and freezes.

But the report recommended a further inquiry into the council’s past financial mistakes was not needed because there ‘has been no evidence found of fraud or financial loss that would warrant any further investigation’

It added the decisions taken that cause the financial problems ‘were taken lawfully and in accordance with the council’s constitution’.

“The council’s focus must be to continue its financial recovery and look to the future rather than conducting a further investigation into previous events which are unlikely to say anything different to the two CIPFA reviews and external auditor reports already published” it added.

At the Town Hall meeting, Conservative councillors were unimpressed and called for a further investigation.

Group leader Councillor Sally Coneron (Con, Ascot and Sunninghill) said that not carrying out a further review ‘would be a mistake’.

She said: “Public trust in this council’s financial management has already been shaken in recent years.

“To tell our residents that we will not dig deeper into issues raised by an independent review risks looking like we are sweeping problems under the carpet. Transparency and accountability demand more than a tick box response.

“Let us remember that our duty as councillors is to safeguard public money. Agreeing that no further investigation is required may seem expedient tonight but the reputational damage if we appear to avoid scrutiny is far greater.”

But councillor Lynne Jones, the cabinet member for finance, said that a further investigation would create a further financial burden for the council.

Cllr Jones (OWRA, Old Windsor) said: “This administration is restoring the trust in the council’s finances by being transparent.

“Those asking for a further investigation is another instance of spending residents’ money on a whim without the evidence to support the decision.”

Cllr Jones added that the previous Conservative administration led the council to an annual funding deficit of £30million, low reserves and ‘hollowed out services’.

Council leader Cllr Simon Werner (Lib Dem, Pinkneys Green) agreed that the Royal Borough should focus on ‘financial recovery’.

Cllr Werner said: “The investigation took a year, it cost a load of money, it paralysed the organisation… and the result found nothing that was of any use.

“The pitiful attempts by certain Conservatives to try and blame officers is shocking and to be quite frank is cowardice.

“This council needs to be the adults in the room not sulking children.”

Liberal Democrat colleague Mark Wilson (Lib Dem, Eton and Castle) said the previous Conservative administration should ‘take a long hard look in the mirror’.

Cllr Neil Knowles (OWRA, Old Windsor) saw the report as a ‘blueprint’ for what should not happen in the future.

Despite calls for a further investigation, 27 councillors voted to approve the report.

One councillor abstained and eight members voted against.