Gloucester City Council’s opposition parties have united in calling for a forensic investigation into the council’s ongoing financial crisis. Leaders from the Conservative, Labour, and Independent groups have jointly issued an open letter urging the appointment of independent forensic accountants to rigorously examine the circumstances that led to the council securing a £15.5 million emergency loan from the Government.
This plea for “full transparency” follows the rejection of similar calls during the previous council meeting. Liberal Democrat leaders opposed the proposal, citing an estimated cost of around £200,000 and concerns about duplicating previously completed work. However, opposition councillors argue that the probe is essential to rebuild public trust and ensure proper oversight of council funds.
The letter emphasizes the serious consequences residents and businesses face, including service cuts, increased fees, and higher council tax. It criticizes the council’s leadership for disregarding requests from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and accuses them of avoiding “this essential work needed to restore public trust.”
The opposition’s letter states: “We urge you to urgently procure, following council procurement rules, independent and qualified forensic accountants to conduct this investigation, as requested by the cross-party Overview and Scrutiny Committee and reflected in proposals by the Independent Party, Conservative, and Labour groups. This work must be managed with strict attention to cost, timing, and independence.”
They further assert that the council has offered no evidence to justify claims that the expense is excessive or unnecessary. The letter brands in-house investigations by the Liberal Democrats as unacceptable, given the public’s demand for impartial scrutiny.
The opposition stresses the importance of publishing all findings in full and presenting them promptly to the full council at a public special meeting. Highlighting the crisis’s magnitude, they affirm their commitment to transparency and accountability, reflecting both professional advice and local community concerns.
Council leader Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) responded by highlighting ongoing internal “forensic testing” of the council’s accounts dating back to 2021. He pointed to two published reports explaining the council’s financial status, crediting new finance staff and support from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, as well as Ernst & Young auditors, for detailed scrutiny.
“We’ve had the support of Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, we’ve had Ernst & Young as new auditors who have gone through it forensically,” Hilton said. “For the first time in five years, we have an accurate assessment.”
Deputy leader Declan Wilson (LD, Hucclecote) questioned the term “forensic accounts,” noting his decades of industry experience and unfamiliarity with the phrase. He also noted that typical annual auditing fees are around £200,000 and suggested the proposed forensic accounting work could be more costly.