The finance boss says ‘work is still happening’.
A finance boss in Oldham has been slammed for ‘repeated no-shows’ at key meetings as the council faces difficulties with its finances.
Councillor Abdul Jabbar, the cabinet leader for Finance, Corporate Services and Sustainability has reportedly failed to show up to several audit scrutiny meetings this financial year – despite the panel tackling major challenges.
Oldham Council is currently facing a predicted £23m budget hole – an ‘unsustainable’ position that could see the local authority having to apply for support from the government if there are no major changes in the next six months.
The audit group has also been investigating a ‘shocking mistake’ that led to more than 80 councillors being overpaid a total of £104k over the past three years, as well as other problems with payroll.
The issues were raised at an audit scrutiny meeting earlier this week, on Wednesday October 22, which Coun Jabbar did not attend.
Coun Sam Al-Hamdani, a Lib Dem councillor and a member of the audit committee, accused the finance boss of ‘ducking questions’ and not taking the council’s financial situation seriously. Coun Jabbar has denied these allegations.
Coun Al-Hamdani said: “This is not a one off – Councillor Jabbar has not attended any meeting this year when we have been discussing the problems in payroll – his name appears on the reports, but there is no sign of him.
“People are rightly angry that these overpayments were made – as am I. It was shocking to me to find that no-one was taking responsibility when these mistakes were made.
I find it extremely telling that when the audit committee was taking issue with this poor governance, the Cabinet Member responsible did not see fit to attend or send a substitute.
“Frankly, Cabinet Members need to a step up take responsibility, not duck questions and leave their staff in the firing line.”
Another audit committee member, Coun Kamran Ghafoor of the Oldham Group, added he felt there was a ‘pattern of avoidance’ among senior council leadership when it came to tackling difficult issues.
The audit meeting on Wednesday revealed that an ‘embarrassing mismanagement’ led to the overpayments, which saw 82 councillors overpaid by hundreds or thousands of pounds, while 11 more were underpaid within the same period. The council also came under fire for its ‘inadequate’ payroll system due to several, long-standing issues that are responsible for paying 8,500 employees.
Coun Jabbar did not provide a reason for his absence, but said: “While I have not personally attended recent Audit Committee meetings, I want to make clear that the work to ensure the council’s finances are properly managed, monitored and audited takes place every day – not just in those formal sessions. Much of this work happens in regular briefings, internal reviews and meetings with senior officers, external auditors, and Cabinet colleagues.
“My focus has been, and continues to be, on driving forward the necessary improvements to strengthen our financial controls and ensure lessons are learned.
“I remain committed to ensuring Oldham Council’s financial management is transparent, accountable and fit for purpose, and I will continue to work with both officers and members to make sure that happens.”