Clerk’s £116k of illegitimate payments to herself

A TOWN council clerk made £116,000 worth of illegitimate payments to herself over a fouryear period, a report has revealed.

Findings from Audit Wales show how three councils failed to monitor their finances, resulting in a significant loss to the public purse due to “unlawful activity” and “poor governance”.

The councils, two in Bridgend and one in Blaenau Gwent, were identified as councils where there were “misuses of public money”.

A report found “significant loses to the public purse”.

The findings were shared after individual councils – Llangynwyd Middle Community Council, Ynysawdre Community Council and Abertillery and Llanhilleth Community Council – found themselves in a “difficult position due to poor governance and financial management”.

In the case of the Bridgend councils, a clerk made illegitimate payments of more than £116,000 to herself over a four-year period.

Additionally, the Abertillery and Llanhilleth Community Council was found to have failed to properly scrutinise a gratuity and other payments to its former clerk, resulting in a loss of more than £27,000.

A statement from Audit Wales said: “Both Llangynwyd Middle Community Council and Ynysawdre Community Council failed to adequately monitor financial positions and exercise expected minimum standards of financial management and governance.

“This failure allowed the former clerk to both councils to make illegitimate payments to herself amounting to over £116,000 over a period of four years. The councils failed to properly supervise and scrutinise these payments made by their former clerk. Councillors at Abertillery and Llanhilleth Community Council failed to properly scrutinise a gratuity and other payments to its former clerk leading to a loss of over £27,000.

“Councillors also failed to ensure they had adequate arrangements in place to secure value for money when buying goods and services.”

The Bridgend community councils have been given several recommendations centred on: ■■Management of key accounting records;

■■Review of internal controls; ■■Scrutiny and review of the delivery of clerk responsibilities; ■■Financial management and governance training; ■■Recovery of unlawful payments; and

■■Appointment of internal auditor.

Auditor General, Adrian Crompton said: “These three reports show just how important it is to have proper systems, controls and scrutiny in place in order to protect the public purse. I urge all three councils to take note of the recommendations we have made.”