Walsall Council cleared over £42million spending

WALSALL Council has been cleared of any wrong doing following a four-year investigation into how the authority spent £42 million of government funding.

Investigations were made by detectives into findings made by West Midlands Police and the Crown Proescution Service over the council's spending of Neighbourhood Renewal Fund money.

But after years of investigations, West Midlands Police released a statement clearing Walsall Council's name.

It read: "The findings of the investigation were considered by the Crown Prosecution Service and a separate review of the investigation was carried out by the City of London Police.

"The use of Neighbourhood Renewal Funding was found to be in accordance with floor targets set by the Government and no money was stolen or is missing.

"Investigators have found no evidence of criminality in any other areas of the Authority's business which were brought into question."

A former council employee Peter Francis was awarded a record tribunal payout of £650,000 after he was dismissed in 2005 following claims he made over the financial mismanagement.

Walsall Council leader Councillor Mike Bird was pleased to hear the authority was in the clear.

He said: "The cloud of suspicion raised by these allegations has been lifted by this thorough police investigation.

"I am particularly pleased that the investigation was subject to an independent review by the City of London Police.

"This has provided further and final confirmation that there has been no criminal wrong-doing. The council can now continue to focus upon services for Walsall people."

Chief executive Paul Sheehan said: "The council has given its full co-operation to this investigation because it was essential to resolve these long standing historic issues once and for all."