𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 £𝟑𝟎𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐁𝐖𝐌 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲.
Letter by Andrew Johnson Former Leader of Council.
Full inquiry needed for accounting errors
As the leader of the 2019-2023 RBWM Conservative Council, I want to set the record straight with regards to the reported accounting errors which have subsequently been identified across three years’ worth of accounts from 2021.
For questions have been raised within the public domain as to whether I, or any other elected member, was aware of these errors at the time and whether they were the result of any undue interference by councillors. I can categorically state that I was not aware of these issues, nor to the best of my knowledge was any other councillor.
Nor it seems was any member of the now administration until well over a year into office.
This is not a criticism of them, but merely a statement of fact.
It is also worth stating that such accounting and reporting is purely the function and preserve of professional council officers, as is entirely right and proper.
As far as I was concerned, the council delivered balanced revenue budgets over the period 2019-23, a fact verified by officer reporting and validation, as is legally required.
I find the recent revelations around significant accounting errors to be most disturbing, especially within the context of the proposed significant increase in council tax.
As a result, I would urge that a full inquiry and investigation of the serious accounting errors with full transparency, now be instigated with upmost urgency to establish the facts, uncover what actually happened, and identify who was responsible, given the vast sums of public money involved.
If this includes recalling those officers involved at the time to give evidence, then so be it.
I for one would gladly welcome the opportunity to participate in such an inquiry, which must be done on a cross-party basis given the scale of the issue, and to that end I have written to the Local Government Minister urging him to instigate one, should the Royal Borough be unable, or willing, to do so.
ANDREW JOHNSON
Former Leader of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead 2019-2023