Fraud probe into council contract dropped
No-one will face action following investigation
PROSECUTORS have closed the fraud investigation into Cheshire East’s awarding of contracts to a fitness company because there was insufficient evidence to provide a conviction against any individual.
Police announced in January 2016 they had launched a criminal investigation into the awarding of contracts to Corefit, a company run by former council leader Michael Jones’ physiotherapist, Amanda Morris.
And they raided the council’s Westfield headquarters just before Christmas in 2015.
Following a two year investigation a file was handed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in June 2018.
Cheshire Police issued a statement this week to say no-one would be prosecuted.
A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: “Cheshire Constabulary has been conducting a complex investigation into an allegation of misconduct and fraud relating to the awarding of a contract by Cheshire East Council to a fitness company.
“A file of evidence was submitted to the CPS, who considered this in some detail and advised that although there were issues in relation to procurement, there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of a conviction against any individual.
“The CPS advice concerns only the above fraud allegation. A further five allegations referred to police by Cheshire East Council remain under investigation.
“Meanwhile, a separate investigation into misconduct relating to grant funding for a primary school car park has also concluded, with no further action to be taken.”
Former council leader Michael Jones said: “This has been four and a half years of hell. I was absolutely clear that nothing was ever done wrong. The police in Cheshire we shall discuss at a later date but I will say also that there’s much more to this.
“I am happy to thank all of my supporters, which have been many, and surprising ones, but this is a bigger story than simply the Corefit which is now a completely closed case.
“It saddens me that Corefit, which has helped so many kids out for £82,000, [and] they spent over £1 million investigating it. There’s something wrong in society when that happens, but a fuller statement will come out shortly.”
Cheshire East Council chief executive Lorraine O’Donnell said: “We understand that the CPS has determined that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction, with regard to the investigation into the award of a contract related to a fitness company in 2015.
“We note that the CPS has identified issues in relation to procurement. The council will now review the findings and take all appropriate steps in due course.
“As recognised in the recent corporate peer challenge report, the council has made significant progress since 2015 and we will use any learning as we continue on our improvement journey.
“We also understand that the separate investigation into grant funding for a primary school car park has also concluded, with no further action to be taken.
“Cheshire East Council continues to cooperate fully with the police in other matters referred to the police for investigation.”
The five other allegations referred to the police include land transactions in Crewe and the Middlewich as well as allegations relating to the manipulation of air quality data.