How was Victory Energy allowed to waste so much money?
It comes as absolutely no shock that Portsmouth City Council did not follow their own internal procedures before marching on with taxpayers money to create a £3.5m loss making energy firm in Victory Energy.
The News have managed to obtain an auditors report that states they found three ‘high risk’ areas where ‘due process and procedure were not followed.’ No surprise there then.
Under the stewardship of most leaders the council fails to adhere to its very own principles of compliance, transparency and governance, this is not new.
However, how has a company with zero trade accrued over £3.5m losses and, as importantly, how has a company with zero trade managed to provide a six-figure sponsorship deal? The fees and wages paid alone are enough to generate a public enquiry, let alone the aftermath!
Let us remember that former leader Donna Jones stated, when challenged of the ethics of this company by Gerald Vernon-Jackson: ‘This company would have traded if I had still been leader.’ There is clear evidence of an individual acting as an individual rather than the appointed ‘minder’ of the community coffers.
David Williams, council chief executive, has managed to side-step Victory Energy enquiries, along with the FOI, despite being at the very forefront, comforted us by saying, ‘Some of the council’s internal procedures were not fully followed, but at no point did this cause any legal or financial risk. We’re sorry this happened and governance measures have been reviewed to prevent it happening again.’
I take it that is the abolishment of the ‘loophole’ rule then, Mr Williams?
Dean Kimber North Shore, Hayling Island