Exit payments ‘row’ breaks out

‘A U-TURN HAS TAKEN PLACE - I HAVE BEEN MISLED’ SAYS LABOUR CHIEF

A POLITICAL row has broken out in Northumberland over the long-running saga around unlawful exit payments totalling more than £1m.

The leader of Northumberland Labour, Coun Scott Dickinson has claimed he was “misled” over the investigation into the series of bigmoney payments at Northumberland County Council (NCC) between 2017 and 2022.

The deputy leader of the Conservative-led county council, Coun Richard Wearmouth, hit back at Coun Dickinson’s comments and claimed the leader of the opposition was entitled to ask for clarity, but had not done so.

In November, it was revealed that the county council had U-turned on a decision not to refer the payments to Northumbria Police.

In July, councillors on the audit committee were told that despite the fact the payments were made without proper authorisation there was no evidence of criminal activity.

The council has repeatedly insisted up to now that while the payments were “unlawful”, they were not “illegal” – in that they would have been lawful had they gone through proper processes.

At that time, Labour councillors said it was time to move forward after the council’s finance chief, Jan Willis, said there was “no basis” to make a formal referral to the police.

However, in November it was revealed that the matter would be referred to the police after all. In a pre-prepared statement, the council’s top legal officer Stephen Gerrard said “further inquiries” had been carried out and that he would be sending a file to police after all.

Ms Willis had previously said that investigations were continuing and if any further information came to light that necessitated police involvement, she would not hesitate in referring it to them.

Mr Gerrard and Northumbria Police have since confirmed the file was sent in late January.

The council’s Labour opposition group say they are now pressing for answers on the issue.

Leader of the Labour Group Coun Scott Dickinson MBE said: “I was briefed of the July position. I was confident that the process was thorough and officers had reported findings to the Audit Committee. I was advised that a line must be drawn.

“Nobody has explained to me why or what evidence has come to light wh ich changes the July position.” The Labour leader was referring to the controversies at the council around the Max Caller report into governance at the local authority, as well as the issuing of a section 114 notice because of unlawful expenditure related to the council’s international health consultancy business.

Coun Dickinson also raised concerns about comments made by former council leader Peter Jackson.

In October, Coun Jackson who led the council from 2017 until 2020, said at the audit committee in October 2023 that in his view there had been “quite a lot of illegal activity” at the council.

His successor as leader, Coun Glen Sanderson, has previously said that issues arose “under previous management” and that he had “strong views” about being excluded from discussions on the payments.

Coun Dickinson continued: “I raised concerns in September with Coun Sanderson about accusations being made by his colleagues in public forum with no evidence.

“Since then, no communication has been received about what is now going on and I read in the newspapers and see on the news that a complete U-turn has taken place and police involvement has been chosen.

“Maybe this needs an independent look, an open book, and a nonconnected eye. I have been misled and no councillor can possibly think they have the latest version of the story.”

Responding to Coun Dickinson’s comments, deputy leader Coun Richard Wearmouth said: “The matter of the police referral regarding historic officer conduct at NCC was discussed in audit meetings before and after Christmas and reported in the press. Labour members were present in that audit meeting and could ask questions however they did not as the information was, I assume, very clear.

Scott Dickinson