Update: Ross Town Council have issued the following statement regarding the financial fraud at the Council: "A former member of staff from Ross-on-Wye town council has accepted a formal Police Caution following an alleged case of theft and fraud which came to light in March."Action was taken following an investigation which revealed income due to the Council had not been banked as expected. The Council has conducted a full review of its procedures and is confident that adequate steps have been taken to enhance internal control measures. "The employee’s resignation was tendered and accepted by the Council, without notice, before the conclusion of the investigation."It transpired at the Ross Town Council Meeting on Monday, June 10th that police are investigating an incident of fraud at the Council.

While discussing the internal and external audit reports regarding the Council’s Annual Governance Statement and Accounting Statements, the Mayor of Ross-on-Wye, Councillor Jane Roberts confirmed to her fellow councillors to the fact that, in the last financial year, the Town Council was subject to financial fraud.

No details regarding the incident were given at the meeting because Councillor Roberts did not think it was appropriate for the information to be in the public domain while there is currently a police investigation taking place.

Councillor Utting said he had given the internal audit great thought over the weekend but was content that the council’s financial procedures were robust.

He said: “We have tightened them with respect to dealing with prevention or future prevention of the fraud that did take place earlier in the year.

“Having reread it, I’m perfectly content as chair of finance and personnel that our procedures are robust.

“The clerk has taken measures to further minimise that, but it will never prevent fraud or theft if a person intends to do so.

“There’s been some tidying up of processes which hopefully reduces the further risk of fraud.”

Councillor Bev Pope asked how much public money had been lost, but Councillor Roberts said that to discuss the matter they would have to exclude the press and public, and that it is a small amount.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.