In 2008, the Council published a number of audit investigations, which uncovered serious breaches in the Council’s contract rules by council officers.
As part of a commitment to put these matters right, the Chief Executive commissioned a high profile independent panel of experts to make sure the Council now has the right rules and procedures in place for spending public money.
Wednesday 25 November 2009
Tuesday 8 September 2009
The chair of the independent panel reviewing Waltham Forest Council’s procurement and contract management procedures has stated no final report will be prepared until October at the earliest.
Sir Peter Rogers, who was recruited to chair the panel alongside his job as Chief Executive of the London Development Agency, confirmed that over 30 council officers, MPs and other interested parties had been interviewed since June.
The investigation has focused on breaches of the Council’s contract rules highlighted in a series of reports published in 2008.
In a statement to council employees, Mr Rogers said: “In my initial discussions with the Chief Executive, Andrew Kilburn, we had hoped for the panel’s work to be concluded by mid August; enabling a final report to be written and published by late September. Owing to the breadth of the work, individuals availability in a holiday season and simply the amount of documentation reviewed the panel has now confirmed with the Chief Executive that this is no longer an achievable ambition. I strongly believe that this delay is necessary to allow my colleagues and I the time needed to reach a sound conclusion of Waltham Forest’s current situation and make sound recommendations for the future.”
The Council have stated that as soon as a new date is agreed, they will make a further announcement.
Monday 3 August 2009
The independent external panel commissioned by the Council, are now well into their work.
Over 30 interviews with council officers, MPs and other interested parties have taken place over the last month, as the Panel continues to review and report on the authority’s procurement and contract management arrangements. More interviews are scheduled.
Most recently, the Panel commissioned a spot-check of 60 council contracts, to look for evidence of improvement. The spot-check was made up of contracts let prior to audit reports published in 2008, highlighting breaches of the Council’s contract rules, and some let since.
It was the findings of the 2008 audit reports which led to the Panel being commissioned.
Waltham Forest Chief Executive, Andrew Kilburn, said:
I expect to see dramatic improvements in compliance where contracts have been let in the last year.
Non compliance with the appropriate regulations will not be accepted.
We are determined to put matters right in Waltham Forest and the Panel is helping us do that.”
Tuesday 7 July 2009
Waltham Forest Council confirmed today that the high profile independent panel of experts appointed to look at Council contracts has started its investigations.
The panel was appointed by Chief Executive Andrew Kilburn after the Council carried out a number of audit investigations which uncovered serious breaches in the council’s contract rules.
The work of the panel will focus on current contracts and on ensuring that the Council has the right rules and procedures in place for spending public money. At the end of the their investigations, the panel will provide a whole system assurance on the probity and legitimacy of current contracts.
In the meantime, the Council’s own audit investigations will continue and any breaches of contract rules will continue to be acted upon.
The panel will be chaired by Sir Peter Rogers, Chief Executive of the London Development Agency and former Chief Executive of Westminster City Council.
Lucy de Groot CBE, former Executive Director of the Improvement Agency for Local Government, and David Parr, Chief Executive of Halton Borough Council, join Sir Peter on the panel.
Welcoming the start of the panel’s work, Andrew Kilburn said;
"Collectively, these three individuals have a vast breadth of knowledge and experience in public finance management and ethical governance. They have been selected for these reasons and their ability to be objective and independent.
We are determined to put matters right. This panel will help the Council uncover any area where rules are not being followed and will also ensure that all of our rules and procedures match the best in the public sector.
In the meantime, the Council’s own audit investigations will continue and any breaches of contract rules will continue to be looked at a serious disciplinary matter.”
The panel will report to the Chief Executive and Cabinet in September of this year with their initial findings.
