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Telford & Wrekin Council Watch
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| Question Mark Hangs over the Auditors Letter |
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| Written by John Franklyn | |||||||||||||
| Wednesday, 07 May 2008 | |||||||||||||
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The Residents of Telford and Wrekin are being misled and I for one express my concern at the propaganda thrown out from the offices of Telford and Wrekin Council.
I for one find myself questioning the auditor and at least some of the contents in a recent auditors letter.
The following paragraph is an extract from the auditors letter, recently discussed at Full Council and reported quite widely but not entirely accurate and I wonder why something has gone through unchallenged.
I for one stand up and now challenge the validity of the following statement, which is not accurate and I believe it casts a shadow over the auditors role and their independence whilst displaying that many elected members will let reports go through if they look good.
With the creation of ‘Transforming Telford’ there has been a change in the way
that economic development and support is delivered. Figures from October 2006 until March 2007 show that in that period there have been three new investments, seven business expansions, 361 jobs created and 100 jobs safeguarded, through 74 company visits and 118 supported enquiries. Unemployment levels in the borough have remained below the West Midlands average (2.6 per cent in March 2007 compared with 3.4 per cent in the West Midlands). The Council also scores well above average in the delivery of the Local Transport Plan. Questions have been asked and maybe now elected members would like to provide answers, I have asked the following
The statement above is from the Annual Audit Letter. TT was then known as Telford First and had not moved into their offices until nearer December, they were not incorporated at Companies House until 29/06/2007 - are they taking credit for the figures provided and if so how did they do it? - How many jobs were lost over the same period and what is the purpose of Transforming Telford (Enterprises) Ltd which is a separate Ltd Company.
The answers have been provided, but on this occasion I will not give the identity of the person who is in a very senior position, but it does confirm the fact that auditors have given praise to Transforming Telford for something they had nothing to do with
Dear John
Prior to the Transforming Telford's incorporation on 29 June 2007 the economic development service was delivered by employees of Telford and Wrekin Council. The figures you refer to in your email relate to those services provided to companies by the economic development team between October 2006 – March 2007. With regard to quantifying job losses, there is no obligation for individuals and companies to notify the relevant authorities unless it is deemed to be a ‘large scale redundancy’ involving 20 or more people. It is therefore not possible to say how many jobs were lost over the same time period. The government publishes an Annual Business Inquiry (ABI) which provides statistics including the total number of jobs in Telford and Wrekin’s economy. The 2007 data is due for publication on 17 December 2008.
This clearly says that Transforming Telford had nothing to do with any success highlighted in the auditors letter, but it certainly let residents believe they delivered this success.
Not only did local tax payers fund £1.3 million for a Limited Company, but the tax payer could have also footed the bill for a second Limited Company and both set up by Telford and Wrekin Council.
TRANSFORMING TELFORD (ENTERPRISES) LIMITED
LEGAL SERVICES, BOROUGH OF TELFORD, & WREKIN CIVIC OFFICES MALINSLEE TELFORDTF3 4LF Company No. 05992794 Was also set up covertly and the same source has also confirmed
Transforming Telford (Enterprises) Ltd was incorporated on 8 November 2006 under the name of Transforming Telford Ltd. It has never traded and is in the process of being dissolved with Companies House.
If the Economic Development Team performed so well, why did Telford and Wrekin tax payers fund the setting up of TWO Limited Companies only to see one of those companies dissolved.
Again, concern must be expressed as it was set up covertly and attempts were made to close it down without telling the tax payer.
We have escaped over 30 years of secrets with one administration to find the other is not far off the same.
We have been promised openness, honesty and working “Hand in Glove” – its been said, when is it going to happen.
I have forwarded the open letter to the Leader, I still await answers and will be following up to get them.
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3.20 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."Telford Council Watch                |
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