The Fire Brigades Union says there is a risk of a cover up of alleged serious financial mismanagement and other practices at Essex fire service after the District Auditor says she will not investigate any allegations prior to 2010. The auditor and the fire authority are refusing to disclose a previous report into financial concerns that continues to be kept secret despite numerous Freedom of Information Act requests.
The union is calling for a robust, transparent and wholly independent investigation into all of the very serious allegations of financial mismanagement and contentious management practices submitted by the union. Included in the allegations are a number of disciplinary cases and staff departures with significant cash pay offs paid for by Essex taxpayers. Baroness Smith of Basildon, local Councillors and journalists have also raised concerns and some have uncovered questionable expenditures through FOI requests.
The District Auditor says she does not have the powers to investigate allegations prior to 2010. The District Auditor has refused an FOI request for a report which touched on some of the allegations and the fire authority has still not complied with a similar request.
The District Auditor wrote to the union and explained: “Further to your request for me to provide you with a copy of the Gillespie report, as outlined in my e-mail of 3 April, I have contacted Essex Fire Authority to obtain their views on whether they would be happy for me to share the report with you. They have confirmed that at the present time they do not feel that it is appropriate for the report to be released.”
Some allegations relate to payments to the chief officer for tiling, curtains and carpets at his private home paid for by the taxpayer. Another relates to payments for an HR consultant which amounted to over £800,000 for just over a year’s work.
The allegations involve some of the most senior figures in Essex Fire and Rescue Service, stretching over many years.
Paul Woolstenholmes, FBU National Officer: “Serious allegations about financial mismanagement have been made and we now need a robust and independent inquiry. We are determined to ensure there is no cover-up.
“According to our sources, the allegations are backed by numerous witnesses whose names were given to the District Auditor but it seems none of these witnesses have even been interviewed. The witnesses include the highest ranks of uniform officers, an HR manager and a manager in the Finance Department – all of whom felt the previous investigation into some of the earlier allegations was flawed.
“None of them were ever given the opportunity to see or be cross-examined on the content of the original investigation report which it seems the fire authority swept under the carpet. According to our sources, these witnesses of good repute are still willing to testify in any new, properly robust and independent investigation.
“Baroness Smith, local councillors, reporters and local MP Eric Pickles have all raised concerns. If the District Auditor cannot or won’t investigate then someone else needs to.
“It is about getting to the bottom of how large sums of public money have been spent, who approved it and who takes responsibility. We feel there are obvious similarities with the MPs’ expenses scandal and the recent conviction of Lord Hanningfield, former head of Essex County Council, for fraudulent expenses claims.
“At first they went to great lengths to try and block the information getting out. Then they claimed the MPs expenses had all been properly scrutinised and paid within the rules.
“In the end, when it was all blown out into the open, public opinion was appalled at the expense claims and the rules. There will be no whitewash in Essex.”
