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The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has responded to Bolton Council ’s request for an update into £900,000 that went “missing” from its budget. The town hall heard this week that the CPS had responded to a letter from council chief executive Sue Johnson saying that the next steps were to engage with the police for “some final information". The CPS response said that they were committed to pursuing the investigation, but this drew criticism from audit committee member Cllr John Walsh, of Astley Bridge.
He said: “I’ve got to say chairman, that seems a fairly bland response or a non-response if I’m frank about it.” He added: “I’m not critical of officers for interpreting it or presenting it but the content that is being described. An audit committee meeting heard the latest on the investigation (Image: Anthony Moss) “I find it pretty bland, pretty poor several months or a year on.
” A previous meeting of the audit committee back in February heard how there had been concerns about an apparent lack of information about the investigation into the missing funds. This came after The Bolton News reported exclusively back in October 2023 that a “fraud investigation” was underway at the council after around £900,000 could not be accounted for. That same month Greater Manchester Police said the force and the council were aware of a report made in connection to alleged fraud and malpractice.
A force spokesperson said its economic crime unit had launched an investigation into alleged offences that took place between 2017 and March 2023. But the audit committee meeting held in February, nearly a year and a half after The Bolton News report, heard that members were concerned about the seeming lack of progress. At the meeting, chair Cllr David Grant suggested that the committee ask chief executive Sue Johnson to write to the CPS expressing their disappointment.
Cllr Walsh further suggested that the committee ask Ms Johnson to write to Bolton’s three MPs to express this feeling. The committee voted unanimously to ask Ms Johnson to do so. The latest meeting heard from council officers that the letter had been sent from Ms Johnson to the chief prosecutor on February 28.
They heard the chief prosecutor had written back at the beginning of April saying the CPS was committed to the “next steps” of the investigation . ALSO READ: Latest in fraud probe into nearly £1M unaccounted for at Bolton Council ALSO READ: Bolton Council 'fraud report' to be made public ALSO READ: Fraud investigation after nearly £1M of Bolton Council cash is unaccounted for They said they were waiting for some final information while engaging with the police but were committed to progressing the case. Cllr Grant, of Horwich South and Blackrod, said he understood Cllr Walsh’s disappointment at this “bland response".
But he said writing to the CPS had still had the desired effect and “fired a rocket". Cllr Grant said: “We don’t want to give them the heebie-jeebies by producing it just yet, but it will be distributed to members as and when the appropriate time is given.”.
