Council auditor's 'wall of silence' claim

The audit manager said his letters got no response

An internal auditor within Flintshire County Council has claimed he is unable to carry out his work because vital documents relating to various sensitive issues are being withheld from him.

Audit manager Andy Sutton is so concerned that he and a colleague have written a highly critical letter to all 70 councillors.

In the letter - signed by himself and solicitor Mark Humphreys - they complain that since August 1999 efforts to gain direct access to documents, records and correspondence have either been rejected or met with a wall of silence.

The audit section wants to investigate the background to the controversial purchase of a £600,000 farm in Malpas, Cheshire.

It is absolutely imperative that we are not seen to be treating certain officers differently

Council audit manager Andy Sutton

The farm was purchased for a tenant farmer so that he could be moved from a farm at River Lane, Saltney, a site put forward for a major jobs project. But the project fell through.

The council has since called in North Wales Police to investigate the affair.

Investigations are also taking place into the so-called ultra vires payment - when a £32,000 golden handshake was paid on retirement to a woman responsible for an old people's home.

She was only entitled to £12,000. The £20,000 which was overpaid remains outstanding.

The auditors also want to investigate the management of the housing benefits department and financial issues relating to the engagement of a solicitor for the North Wales Child Abuse Inquiry.

Mr Sutton said that the auditors must be granted unrestricted access to records, documents and correspondence.

"We have never been denied direct access before."

'Rules must apply'

He added: "Would we accept it if the rank and file of Flintshire County Council refused us access to things on the basis that they could not trust us with it or that it would be leaked? Of course not!

"The point is that the same rules must apply to all. It is absolutely imperative that we are not seen to be treating certain officers differently."

Deputy chief executive Keith McDonogh has since written to the two men to say that if they have further concerns then they should share them with the district auditor.

He said that in the interests of preserving the objectivity and impartiality of councillors, he is instructing them not to write to councillors again without asking him.

In a press statement, he said the areas of concern had already been addressed by internal procedures and had been referred to the district auditor.