Eastleigh council recruits for independent committee member

Eastleigh Borough Council is recruiting for one person to join the Audit and Resources Committee.

The member will help provide a review of the council’s governance, risk management, control frameworks, and financial reporting processes.

A key requirement for any candidate is that they must not be bankrupt

Bringing in a second independent person is a new move by the council and comes after a spate of controversy over its finances.

The council was under fire after it was revealed in January it has a debt of £350m - with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak describing the amount as ‘excessive’.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with MP Paul Holmes (Image: Newsquest)

Fraud allegations were also made by external auditors who examined the council’s One Horton Heath Project, where “significant weaknesses” were found.

Their 10,000-word report says they were "unable to determine" that no fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations has taken place.

The new member, who would be appointed for two years, must ‘take independent, unbiased and objective views’.

READ MORE: Rishi Sunak hits out at Eastleigh Borough Council’s ‘excessive debt’

Speaking on the job application, Tory MP for Eastleigh Paul Holmes said: “I’m pleased that debt-ridden Eastleigh Borough Council and its Lib Dem administration is looking for independent expertise on this committee.

“With the record of borrowing and debt imposed by Keith House, he could do well to listen to people on how he should solve this issue.”

The job description published on the council website said the right candidate must work to ‘high behavioural standards, demonstrating honesty’.

They will also help ensure that ‘public funds are used efficiently and effectively.’

The description said: “This is a role which carries public responsibility, and you must work to high behavioural standards, demonstrating honesty, probity and the highest level of integrity in conduct."

The appointment of an independent member forms part of the council’s commitment to transparency.

A spokesperson from Eastleigh Borough Council said: “We welcome scrutiny of our decision-making processes; to facilitate this, we were keen to have independent people outside the Council acting as ‘critical friends’."

They added: “This is an additional appointment to one already made.”

There is an annual retainer of £600 per year and an allowance payable of £100 per meeting attended, together with travel costs.