A Somerton resident has criticised the amount of money beingspent on investigations into activities of the town council prior toit going into limbo when most members quit.
Around Pounds 35,000 is thought to have been spent on externalauditors following the resignation of 12 members last year. Thefindings have yet to be made public.
The investigation by the District Auditor was requested by NiallConnolly, whose comments about council operations in an internetblog were blamed for the walk-out.
The town council was reconstituted after elections produced newmembers and at their recent meeting they were addressed by residentLucy Raybould who is concerned about amounts spent on the audit.
Her father-in-law, Brian Raybould, served on the council prior tothe walk-out.
She said: "I have been shocked to hear of the sums of money beingspent on investigating the previous council for malpractice.
"When I approached the chairman regarding play equipment for thechildren in Somerton I was told that it would be supported, financespermitting. I feel concerned that so much money is being spent onthis investigation instead of on worthwhile causes.
"If it's the case that procedures were not always followed by thelast council, then surely the course of action would simply be toensure that the present council learns by these mistakes and doesn'tmake the same errors. If it is believed that a criminal act hastaken place, then this should be brought to the attention of thepolice and left to them to pursue."
Town council chairman Michael Fraser-Hopewell, who was elected tothe council in January, said the authority had no choice over theinvestigations going ahead.
He said it was initiated by a member of the public and once theauditors were in, the only thing the council could do was foot thebill.
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