UPDATE (29/7/20): Mendip Chief Financial Officer Replaced

UPDATE (29/7/20): COUNCILLORS TOLD NOT TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT DEPARTED S151 OFFICER

At Mendip District's Council virtual Full Council meeting on Monday, the Chair of the Meeting Councillor Helen Sprawson-White was scripted (the Chair is given a script to read from) to tell councillors that they should not ask questions about the previous S151 Officer.

They were only there to consider the replacement officer, she told them. We quote:

"I'd really like to note for everybody that this item relates purely to endorsing the appointment of the new S151 Officer and it's not a time to be asking questions about our previous officer."

What was going on there?

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Council documents reveal that Paul Deal, who was Mendip District Council's Chief Financial Officer - or in Council speak according to legislation - "S151 Officer" has left the Council.

The S151 Officer "is responsible for ensuring the financial probity of the Council’s business operations".

Somerset Independents is not aware of whether Mr Deal resigned or was dismissed. Further, we do not know whether additional budget was involved in any settlement. We could ask the Council but they would not tell us anyway, as it would be deemed confidential employment information - despite the fact that it is one of the highest-paid taxpayer-funded roles in the Council.

Based on the Council documents, it appears that Mr Deal was still in post on 9th July as he signed off documentation. Other Council documents were released in advance of the 20th July Full Council meeting. So it appears that Mr Deal left some time between those two dates.

During the Council's budget-setting process early in 2020, there were not one but two extra meetings that had to be scheduled due to mistakes in the original budget. This is highly unusual.

One extraordinary meeting took place on 5th March but the other that was scheduled for 30th March never took place. The Council says that it was due to Covid-19 but the arrangements to deal with the problem are unclear. Perhaps it will be dealt with at the next Full Council. At the time of writing, we are unable to confirm this.

Leader of Somerset Independents Andrew Pope observed the Council's Audit Committee earlier this year. He says:

"Members of Somerset Independents observed the virtual meeting. Alarm bells were ringing in our minds throughout the meeting, not least on how poorly the Chair, Councillor Joshua Burr, conducted events.

We were very concerned how the S151 Officer addressed the meeting, his grasp of the risks facing the Council and how poorly the S151 Officer was held to account by councillors.

There were clearly other recent issues with financial control, including issues raised in the External Audit by Ernst and Young and in the Internal Audit by the South West Audit Partnership. 

Somerset Independents was concerned about the finances of Mendip District Council before the Covid-19 Emergency. Bearing in mind that Mendip is continuing its "commercial investment" programme, and commercial property valuations will now be even more unstable - if they can be believed - we are now even more concerned."

Deputy Leader of Somerset Independents, Denise Wyatt, says:

"Somerset Independents believes that an Independent councillor should chair the Audit Committee, as such a role is too important for party politics.

How can it be right that a Liberal Democrat Councillor is 'auditing' a Liberal Democrat-led Administration and its finances?

Somerset Independents' view is that a councillor who is not in the same party as the Administration, or better - an Independent - should preside over the Audit Committee.

That should increase the chances of true audit occurring, and decrease the chances of soft questioning or cover-ups to protect the Party instead of auditing public funds.

A new Chair should be appointed, at the same time as the new S151 Officer.

The new S151 Officer should be instructed by the Leader of the Council to conduct an urgent review of finances when he is appointed."

The new S151 Officer is Richard Bates, who is due to be formally approved at the Council's Full Council on Monday 20th July. Mr Bates is former S151 Officer of Dorset County Council. His appointment is interim for six months.