To accept criminally reprehensible behaviour as it's unlikely to change

[Wierdyperiody]

I know someone who was disqualified from accounting and sued for 500k in 2013. He didn't disclose it and carried on in a job as a town clerk and rfo. The disqualification was lifted after 10 years. He is a master manipulator and is running the place so chaotically it is a wonder he is getting away with it. He doesn't seem to have any checks or measures in place and is wasting money. I want to report but I think if anyone was going to do something it would have been done by now. Should I accept this?

No report it

I don't know who to report it to. The council is a boys club and everyone is in each others pockets

Whose money is he spending?

Local authority ombudsman - www.lgo.org.uk/

If you're 1000% sure of your facts you could report to the local press.
It needs to be raised. This is public money he's mismanaging.

Yes, this would be the correct way to raise a concern.

Yes thanks I saw this but you hav to go to monitoring officer first and can't do that anonymously ....I will think on. I need to prepare everything first

Councils are large organisations- there will be interested people. How about the head of finance? Or the councillor who is the lead on finance

Do they have a whistle blowing policy on the website? That usually says who to contact. Rather than the Ombudsman, I would go to the Councils external auditor. You’ll be able to find out who they are on the website too.

Town Councils aren't necessarily - TCs are just another name for Parish Councils that aren't in a village.

If he's the RFO he's the Head of Finance.

I would probably go to the press TBH if they will keep you anonymous.

You could report it to your District or County Councillor. They are regular attendees at Town Council meetings and would know who to escalate to do investigating.

Also you could ask the county association for advice. Should be called something like Hertfordshire Association of Local Councils.

External Auditor I think will be PKF Littlejohn if in England. It's Audit time of year at the moment so PKF may be interested if you can say their Annual Return for 2025-26 is incorrect. The TC have to sign off on a list of assertions about governance and accountability.

You should report it if you have concerns.

He wouldn't need to be a qualified accountant to act as RFO or Town Clerk though. Are you sure he didn't disclose it at the time? If he didn't that is probably a disciplinary offence (if the Town Councillors decide to take action), but if he did and nothing was done then that ship has sailed.

If he is now mismanaging money I would raise with my local town councillors in the first instance, as they are also liable for managing the councils finances. If you have evidence of fraud you could take to the police. Otherwise, take to the monitoring officer and the auditors.

Definitely report.