[dropcap type=”circle”]B[/dropcap]ack in 2015, when a charity co-chaired by Councillor Louise Reecejones came under investigation due to suspicions raised by whistleblowers, she responded by sending texts claiming she could use her position to “shut up” the probe into alleged fraud.
This involved a grant paid via the Council by the Department for Education to the charity, Wirral Family Forum. The Council’s internal audit investigation concluded that invoices identified by the whistleblowers were indeed false, and named Ms Reecejones as being at fault.
The report also stated that there was very compelling evidence to suggest that she had created and altered documents in order to deceive the Council and disguise financial mismanagement, and that in several instances there was either compelling or very compelling evidence to suggest this was for a fraudulent purpose. The total sum of money involved was £3,000.
A subsequent police investigation could find no evidence of personal gain and the Crown Prosecution Service brought no charges.
Three complainants subsequently submitted allegations against Councillor Reecejones, stating that, in response to their whistleblowing, she had responded by victimising them and attempting to do them harm. Her actions included calling the employer of one of them to make unfounded allegations, and accusing another of ‘stalking’ her.
In June of this year the Standards Committee found for the complainants and Councillor Reecejones was instructed to apologise to each of them in writing.
Such letters were not immediately written, and when they were they were brief.
I am writing to you as an outcome to the standards panel of 15th June 2017, I apologise for breaching the members code of conduct.
Yours Sincerely,
Cllr Louise Reecejones
Seeking proof that they had actually been sent, the Council’s monitoring officer, Phil McCourt, advised her that, “Your wording is not likely to be considered to be within either the letter or spirit of the Panel’s decision requiring you to undertake this action.”
Yesterday the Standards Committee received further reports relating to the actions of Louise Reecejones and concluded that:
- She has failed to comply with the actions determined by the Standards Panel.
- Has been, and continues to be, an unreliable witness, who attempted to mislead the investigator conducting the review and the monitoring officer.
- Has continued to use her position and influence as a councillor to victimise the complainants in the case by making false claims about them via social media and to others.
Councillor Moira McLaughlin, chair of the Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee, said: “The decision in this case demonstrates that Members at Wirral Council are held to high standards and, when they fall short, we do everything within our power to hold them to account.
“I would like to formally apologise to the whistleblowers in this case, on behalf of the Council in the absence of Councillor Reecejones having done so as required by the Standards panel. Their decision to come forward and highlight the issues they identified was both brave and borne out of nothing other than their desire to do the right thing. As a result, they became the targets of Councillor Reecejones in a series of accusations and allegations made by her that, as the Council instigated reports show, were false and vindictive.
“Their behaviour was and continues to be exemplary and they should be applauded.”
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