A BURTON parish council is on the verge of bankruptcy, a former member has claimed.
Hugh Warner told the Mail that Anglesey Parish Council was heading towards financial ruin after walking out on the authority.
He said that at the back end of last year, the council’s accounts contained only a matter of pence, while bills lay outstanding.
It is also claimed that council manager Ruth Redgate, whose position was formerly known as clerk, is to leave her role.
Hazel Woods, chairman at the beleaguered parish council, neither confirmed or denied any of the accusations levelled, but East Staffordshire Borough Council said it was ‘keeping an eye’ on the situation.
Mr Warner, who was one of those behind a failed attempt to have the council’s finances scrutinised late last year, had previously defiantly claimed that he would not be forced from his position at the authority, after claiming he had been alienated for speaking out.
Mr Warner said: “I’ve just had enough. It just went too far. I think it’s fallen to pieces – it’s virtually bankrupt.
“There is no financial control. There was 34p in the bank account in December – 34p. I’ve asked the council what was going on and they wouldn’t answer me.”
Mr Warner refused to single out anyone for blame, instead saying the council had a collective responsibilty.
He added: “The council is responsible. In the last year it has been destroyed.”
David Duckitt, head of legal and democratic services at East Staffordshire Borough Council, said: “I have spoken to councillors from the parish council in recent months.
“The borough council has no formal role in the oversight of parish councils, we just act as a sounding board, but we have received contact in recent months and are keeping an eye on it to make sure it is dealt with properly.”
When contacted by the Mail, Anglesey Parish Council chairman Hazel Woods said she could not comment on finances and said Ruth Redgate remained as clerk ‘at the present moment in time’.
Mrs Redgate refuted any claims that she was on the way out, saying: “That has come as a shock to me because, as you can see, I’m still here.”
