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| Tower Hamlets Council 'culture of cronyism' criticised | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A report into allegations of fraud at Tower Hamlets Council which criticised its awarding of grants and selling of property reveals a "culture of cronyism", the government has said. | |
| Auditors investigated allegations of "poor financial management". | Auditors investigated allegations of "poor financial management". |
| They found a lack of transparency when issuing grants and that on some occasions the council had awarded money to groups which had not applied. | They found a lack of transparency when issuing grants and that on some occasions the council had awarded money to groups which had not applied. |
| The council, in east London, said it "regretted" flaws in its processes. | |
| But it added that the report showed "no evidence of criminality or fraud". | |
| PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was instructed to investigate "allegations about governance failures, poor financial management and possible fraud" by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles. | PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was instructed to investigate "allegations about governance failures, poor financial management and possible fraud" by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles. |
| It follows allegations in a BBC Panorama investigation that directly-elected Labour mayor Lutfur Rahman diverted charity money for political support. | It follows allegations in a BBC Panorama investigation that directly-elected Labour mayor Lutfur Rahman diverted charity money for political support. |
| Mr Rahman has denied all allegations of electoral malpractice. | Mr Rahman has denied all allegations of electoral malpractice. |
| The report highlighted the "954 Fund" of £954,000 in surplus monies identified in 2012. | The report highlighted the "954 Fund" of £954,000 in surplus monies identified in 2012. |
| 'Possibility of manipulation' | |
| It was found to have "no open application process at all, with monies targeted at member discretion" and in some cases grants were awarded to organisations ruled ineligible. | It was found to have "no open application process at all, with monies targeted at member discretion" and in some cases grants were awarded to organisations ruled ineligible. |
| It also found that a proposal to award money to lunch clubs for Jewish, Sikh and Hindu communities saw £99,212 awarded to Bangladeshi or Somali groups, none of which had applied for the money | It also found that a proposal to award money to lunch clubs for Jewish, Sikh and Hindu communities saw £99,212 awarded to Bangladeshi or Somali groups, none of which had applied for the money |
| The report also highlights the controversial sale of Poplar Town Hall to Dreamstar Ltd in 2011. | The report also highlights the controversial sale of Poplar Town Hall to Dreamstar Ltd in 2011. |
| The authority accepted a late, lower bid from the company, which was found to have an "association with the mayor", despite being advised to accept an offer from another bidder. | |
| Dreamstar's owner had helped the mayor in his election campaign, | |
| PWC said: "The acceptance of a late bid in whatever form created the possibility of manipulation, which could have been avoided or significantly reduced, either by excluding the late bid... or by delaying the opening of all bids." | PWC said: "The acceptance of a late bid in whatever form created the possibility of manipulation, which could have been avoided or significantly reduced, either by excluding the late bid... or by delaying the opening of all bids." |
| 'Breakdown of scrutiny' | |
| Dreamstar won the contract race but did not have the finances available to purchase the lease within the four-week timeframe. | Dreamstar won the contract race but did not have the finances available to purchase the lease within the four-week timeframe. |
| It also asked for and received the council's consent to change the contract to sub-let and to change the use of the listed property. | It also asked for and received the council's consent to change the contract to sub-let and to change the use of the listed property. |
| This was granted at the discretion of the planning officer, rather than referred to the development planning committee, as would be expected. | This was granted at the discretion of the planning officer, rather than referred to the development planning committee, as would be expected. |
| PWC said the actions showed the "existing governance arrangements have weaknesses". | PWC said the actions showed the "existing governance arrangements have weaknesses". |
| Addressing the House of Commons, Mr Pickles said: "It paints a deeply concerning picture of... denial, secrecy the breakdown of democratic scrutiny and accountability, and a culture of cronyism risking the corrupt spending of public funds." | |
| In a statement the council said: "In our view there is no evidence that these flaws of process are 'regular or endemic' meaning that there is no failure to comply with our best value duty." | |
| The report also found that in response to the BBC Panorama programme The Mayor and Our Money, the authority spent £101,479 getting advice from law firm Taylor Wessing and PR consultants Champollion. |