CONCERNS have been raised that the council could be at risk of an “accusation of potential corruption” in relation to an acquisition which cost more than £1million.

Poole councillor Mark Howell has formally reported his worries to BCP Council’s chief executive after raising the subject at a recent committee meeting.

Cllr Howell, Poole People representative, told the audit and governance committee meeting on October 27 he believed “something rather odd” had taken place.

The former deputy leader of the local authority raised the subject during a discussion on the council’s audit plan for 2021/22.

Cllr Howell said: “Although there might not have been any disposals, there was a significant acquisition at speed during this year and I have some concerns that there was a failing in the process that could open the council up to accusation of potential corruption.

“Who should I be reporting that to?”

Audit and governance committee chair Cllr John Beesley interjected to say that he was not sure the language used by Cllr Howell was appropriate.

Cllr Beesley said: “Easy to say but we are live streaming and I think I would like you to reflect and perhaps withdraw the word that you have used.”

Cllr Howell replied: “I did reflect beforehand. I am a qualified solicitor.

“I know what I said and I said it because I believe that there is something rather odd has happened and it looks to me like a breach of process.

"It is in relation to a sum of over a million pounds and it could open up to allegations of corruption – that is a fact.”

Cllr Beesley sought advice from officers, adding that he did not believe it was “territory” a live streamed meeting of the committee should be going into.

Chief executive Graham Farrant told the committee: “If the councillor has any concerns like that I would hope he would raise them with me or with the council’s monitoring officer or with the council’s section 151 officer.

Bournemouth Echo: Graham FarrantGraham Farrant

“If you feel unable to do that then let me talk to you outside about a process for doing that but I hope you would raise those internally with either myself, monitoring officer or section 151 officer.”

No details on what acquisition Cllr Howell was referring to were disclosed at the meeting.

In a statement to the Daily Echo, Mr Farrant said: “Cllr Mark Howell has raised his concern with me and I am working with the head of internal audit to follow it up.

“It would not be appropriate to comment any further at this stage.”