We told you so, the saga of Bill Brooks patio and sand

Folly is sorry but we did tell you that the whole sorry saga of Bills patio was going to rear up and bit the collective bum at County Hall!

Follys now hears that following the revelations at the tribunal and the evidence given by the internal auditor for County, that a call to PLOD is being considered instead of to the Ombudsman.

Lets pick out the reason behind this.

The original complaint that Bill Brooks was using council labour to do a ‘govvy job’, is one thing – to hinder a subsequent investigation is another.



Robert Gibson, representing Mr Riley, asked internal auditor Gary Walker: "Why did you not ascertain Mr Brooks' involvement?" Mr Walker said he had asked the director of finance on September 29 whether he should contact Coun Brooks but was told "he should not bother to do so." It was January, 2006, before Mr Walker spoke to Coun Brooks and received documents identifying Joe Fletcher as the contractor hired to build a driveway.By that time the council leader had already spoken to Northumberland County Council chief executive Mark Henderson about the matter.When asked if this delay hindered the investigation, Mr Walker replied: "It did. But I should say at this point we were trying to find out more general information."

No ‘ifs’ no ‘buts’, the actions of certain individuals hindered the investigation by an auditor.

Lamentable you might say, we might say look at the law!

Malfeasance in public office is against the law, is it not.?

Surely delaying an investigation by several months is wrong?

A public enquiry is needed to bring back a semblance of respect for the County Council. Until then a few people should be suspended, unless of course the auditor is wrong!

We await the out come with baited breath!