Finance watchdogs have launched a probe into “strained relationships” among the region’s political leaders amid concerns it could be jeopardising the effective use of taxpayers’ money.
The West of England Combined Authority’s (Weca’s) external auditors have identified a “risk of significant weakness” in its value-for-money arrangements because of the ongoing power tussle between metro mayor Dan Norris and the elected heads of the area’s four councils.
Grant Thornton is also examining a payoff to a high-ranking officer, understood to be a large five-figure sum to the former director of infrastructure who left last summer, as well as assessing other recent Weca senior leadership team departures which the auditors say could be “highly problematic” for the combined authority’s ability to deliver its objectives.
