Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The meeting was moved from Trowbridge due to venue problems.

I have asked only one question for this meeting. It again relates to payments made to ex employees.

'QUESTION FROM CLLR. ERNIE CLARK, HILPERTON DIVISION TO CLLR. JANE SCOTT, LEADER OF THE COUNCIL.

Q. What progress has been made to recover ‘the enhanced element of severance’ from the former Kennet staff members? Also, I understand that the auditor was of the opinion that the original ‘non-pensionable honoraria’ payments should not have been made. Accepting that this is the case, what steps are being taken to recover these payments? If no action is being taken could you please explain why.

A. Recovery action is still being pursued. Since the last meeting of Council on 28 February 2012 when this matter was raised a further request for information has been made by one of the party’s solicitors. Council Officers are trying to locate this documentation but it is proving to be difficult due to its historical nature.

Once we have complied with the latest request, as far as this is possible, we will be able to require an answer from that party and then any defences raised can be considered and a final decision made as to whether Court proceedings are justified.

With regard to the original non pensionable honoraria payments the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Solicitor to the Council, Chief Finance Officer and myself as Leader, decided not to pursue recovery of these payments as the costs and litigation risks involved in doing so were likely to be disproportionate to the amounts in question. This approach was endorsed by the Audit Committee on 24 March 2010.'

All the original decisions were made during 'closed' debates i.e. the press and public were banned. Now the farce is in the public domain, I wonder whether the original 'not pursue' decision should be looked at again?