I got this email. I wasn't going to say anything about it, until I read this blog. Seems like our hard working district audit can't be bothered actually writing a proper reply to anyone. Andrew Dismore also received a very similar reply. I will be very interested to note just how much all of these cut and paste jobs have cost the taxpayer. I wonder how many other recycled blogs will be appearing with this email in. I feel rather special. I was treated to a whole nine words more than Mrs Angry (in red below).
Whilst the Barnet Bloggers have been issuing joint letters, we didn't realise that we were getting joint replies from highly paid contractors in public authorities, for completely unrelated questions. Do they really think we are that stupid?
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Dear Mr Tichborne
Thank-you for for your email of 10 July.
Over the next 2-3 weeks we are carrying out a programme of work to review the Council's response to the issues raised by the internal audit report, discussed in the Audit Committee meeting and reiterated in subsequent communications. This will pick upon the specific questions you raise.
We will report our findings in our Annual Report to Those Charged with Governance, which will be presented to the 6 September Audit Committee meeting. Until we have completed our work and presented this report we will not be issuing any further comment on this matter.
As noted in our previous responses we will not rule out the possibility of further reporting, including under our statutory reporting powers, should it be required after this time.
Kind regards
Paul
From: "Roger Tichborne"
To:
Date: 11/07/2011 00:56
Subject: Barnet Council and the Metpro Scandal
Dear Mr Hughes,
I have read with interest the correspondence between yourself and Andrew Dismore regarding the Barnet Council Metpro Scandal. I am the author of the Barnet Eye blog, which along with other local blogs, brought the scandal to public attention. I have three questions for you regarding the scandal.
1) At the meeting of the Barnet Council Audit committee, where the report was debated, the chair of the Barnet Council Audit committee publicly stated that the Audit department in Barnet is understaffed. He stated that for an authority with a turnover of approx £1 billion, there were three full time staff + 1.5 contract resources and this was insufficient. It seems incongruous that as District Auditor, you can ignore this comment?
2) Of 9,700 vendors supplying Barnet Council, the audit committee stated that only 183 are regularly monitored. Previously only 10 were. In yur professional opinion as an auditor, is this appropriate?
3) The remit of the Barnet Council Audit report into the Metpro scandal, only addressed issues relating to Metpro. In your professional opinion, is it likely that having exposed such a catalog of failure for this one company, is it likely that there are other, possibly worse cases lurking undetected?
I would be most appreciative of a prompt response. As the government minister responsible, Eric Pickles, this week publicly declared that Barnet had serious problems, only exposed by the efforts of bloggers, I'd suggest that the best way to restore public confidence is a thorough investigation of Barnet Council by your office.
Regards
Roger Tichborne - http://barneteye.blogspot.com/
Whilst the Barnet Bloggers have been issuing joint letters, we didn't realise that we were getting joint replies from highly paid contractors in public authorities, for completely unrelated questions. Do they really think we are that stupid?
--------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr Tichborne
Thank-you for for your email of 10 July.
Over the next 2-3 weeks we are carrying out a programme of work to review the Council's response to the issues raised by the internal audit report, discussed in the Audit Committee meeting and reiterated in subsequent communications. This will pick upon the specific questions you raise.
We will report our findings in our Annual Report to Those Charged with Governance, which will be presented to the 6 September Audit Committee meeting. Until we have completed our work and presented this report we will not be issuing any further comment on this matter.
As noted in our previous responses we will not rule out the possibility of further reporting, including under our statutory reporting powers, should it be required after this time.
Kind regards
Paul
| Paul Hughes | Director | Public Sector |
| For Grant Thornton UK LLP |
| Grant Thornton House | Melton Street | Euston Square | London | NW1 2EP |
| T (direct) +44 (0)20 7728 2256 | T (internal) 82256 | F +44 (0)20 7728 2256 | M +44 (0)7860 282763 |
From: "Roger Tichborne"
To:
Date: 11/07/2011 00:56
Subject: Barnet Council and the Metpro Scandal
Dear Mr Hughes,
I have read with interest the correspondence between yourself and Andrew Dismore regarding the Barnet Council Metpro Scandal. I am the author of the Barnet Eye blog, which along with other local blogs, brought the scandal to public attention. I have three questions for you regarding the scandal.
1) At the meeting of the Barnet Council Audit committee, where the report was debated, the chair of the Barnet Council Audit committee publicly stated that the Audit department in Barnet is understaffed. He stated that for an authority with a turnover of approx £1 billion, there were three full time staff + 1.5 contract resources and this was insufficient. It seems incongruous that as District Auditor, you can ignore this comment?
2) Of 9,700 vendors supplying Barnet Council, the audit committee stated that only 183 are regularly monitored. Previously only 10 were. In yur professional opinion as an auditor, is this appropriate?
3) The remit of the Barnet Council Audit report into the Metpro scandal, only addressed issues relating to Metpro. In your professional opinion, is it likely that having exposed such a catalog of failure for this one company, is it likely that there are other, possibly worse cases lurking undetected?
I would be most appreciative of a prompt response. As the government minister responsible, Eric Pickles, this week publicly declared that Barnet had serious problems, only exposed by the efforts of bloggers, I'd suggest that the best way to restore public confidence is a thorough investigation of Barnet Council by your office.
Regards
Roger Tichborne - http://barneteye.blogspot.com/
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