A MOTION by Waverley’s official Farnham Residents opposition group proposing a debate on the council’s handling of a £233,000 fraud was given short shrift by Waverley’s Tory majority at an ill-tempered meeting of the full council.

Following public questions by UKIP’s Hugo Alexander and Farnham Residents’ leader Jerry Hyman calling for an independent investigation and “effective action” after council officers were duped into handing over taxpayers cash to a fraudster in 2014, Farnham Residents’ councillor John Williamson requested the matter be brought to the June meeting of the council’s executive committee for debate.

Initially greeted by shouts of “sit down” from the chamber as well as remonstrations by committee chairman, the Mayor of Waverley Mike Band, Mr Williamson persuaded members that the council’s constitution allows for a motion to be proposed in response to a public question.

However, Mr Williamson’s motion was dismissed out of hand by the council’s overwhelming Conservative majority - coming just a week after Waverley’s leadership sought to draw a line under the fraud with a “concluding statement” on the matter.

Responding to Mr Alexander’s request for a “full, independent and transparent investigation” into the conduct of the 19 councillors made aware of the fraud some 18 months before a council whistleblower made it public knowledge, the council’s deputy leader Julia Potts said the allegations would be investigated - but only internally.

She said: “I don’t intend to enter into tit-for-tat politics, I don’t think it’s helpful in any way whatsoever while we have such a serious subject.

“I’m satisfied that members did act properly and followed both officer, legal and police advice. Waverley has now publicised details of this matter and there is no longer any risk of undermining a police investigation as the trial of the perpetrator has occurred and he has been sentenced.

“As you are aware the council’s monitoring officer has started to conduct a full investigation into the allegations you have made against councillors and members conduct, and clearly it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on such a matter - it is a matter for monitoring officer.”

Addressing Mr Hyman’s accusation of a “cover-up” involving the council’s independent auditor Grant Thornton, Miss Potts added: “I do not accept that there has been any form of cover-up or any inappropriate statements by the council’s external auditor Grant Thornton, they are indeed a leading accountancy and audit firm.

“I am satisfied that appropriate action has been taken in response to this incident and that the audit committee has been closely monitoring this matter.”