Police investigating alleged theft of funds from Howden Town Council
Officers launched an investigation - which 'remains ongoing' - in March
Humberside Police are investigating the alleged theft of funds from Howden Town Council.
Officers launched an investigation – which “remains ongoing” – in March and a spokesperson for the force said no arrests had yet been made.
Council chair Hugh Roberts said he was aware officers were investigating the allegations but declined to comment further while enquiries continue.
Separately, the council is set to sign off its Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) for the 2019/20 financial year at a meeting on Tuesday, August 18.
An internal audit report filed as part of the council’s AGAR for the 2018/19 financial year found there were “serious concerns” over its financial controls.
The report stated a “high number” of documents relating to payments made from council accounts were not available.
It alleged cash machine withdrawals had been made of a “personal nature”.
The auditor’s report stated:
“The findings and recommendations of this report will present a significant challenge to the council to bring its financial control and governance arrangements up to the required standard.
“The accounts and governance arrangements of the council were maintained to a far less than adequate standard during 2018/19 and the internal financial control environment was well below acceptable standards.
“I am confident, however, that in view of the chairman’s and all of the councillors’ immediate responses when the issues were brought to their attention, there is sufficient enthusiasm and a sense of urgency within the council to bring it up to the required standard in the current financial year.”
The report also referenced the council’s failure to arrange an internal audit and meet legal requirements to submit an AGAR as matters of “particular concern”.
It added the council had taken “immediate and decisive” action once the issues were brought to light.
Council chair Hugh Roberts said all issues raised in the report had since been resolved.
The chair said:
“An AGAR for both 2018/19 and 2019/20 has been completed and will be sent to an auditor along with this year’s accounts.
“The external audit cannot move either of them forward until the police complete their investigation.
“They will be completed by the end of this financial year 2020/21.
“During the past three to four months we have put a number of measures in place to address the issues raised.
“The reports will be discussed at a council meeting."
Humberside Police confirmed they are still investigating.