Ashfield district MPs write to the police calling for an investigation into local council.

Ashfield MP Lee Anderson and Sherwood Forest MP Michelle Welsh have written a joint letter to Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Steve Cooper urging them to launch a police investigation into Ashfield District Council.

The letter reads as follows:

Dear Chief Constable,

RE: Concerns at Ashfield District Council.

As Members of Parliament representing areas within the Ashfield District, we are writing to highlight significant concerns at Ashfield District Council and to urge you to launch a police investigation into the matters arising.

Following the fraud conviction of former Council Leader Jason Zadrozny and his subsequent appointment to Ashfield District Council’s Planning Committee, a number of facts and allegations have now come to light that are deeply concerning, and which we believe warrant an independent police investigation.

The issues relate particularly to Ashfield District Council’s Planning Department, as well as the authority’s contract procurement processes.

The concerns include, but are not limited to, contentious Planning applications connected to sitting councillors or their family members, which have been granted despite officers recommending refusal, as well as public contracts awarded to companies connected to councillors or senior officers of the authority.

We note that, having raised these issues with the Government, a Rapid Best Value Assessment of the authority has been ordered, and senior officials in the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government are currently meeting with council representatives and the authority’s external auditor.

Whilst we welcome this intervention from the Government, given the seriousness of the concerns raised, we believe a police investigation is now necessary.

To that end, we would urge you to meet with us as soon as possible so that we can discuss these concerns further.

Our constituents deserve transparency and accountability, and we believe an independent police investigation is an important step towards achieving this.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Lee Anderson MP

Michelle Welsh MP