The outside accountancy company awarded a lucrative weekly contract by the clerk Wendy Brame at Hadleigh town council is run by one its own staff, it has emerged.

12 Magpies Accountancy is run by the town's former Responsible Finance Officer (RFO) and project officer Alicja Barnes, based at Long Melford, according to people with close knowledge of the firm and its owner.

Nub News has seen evidence confirming Ms Barnes as the owner of 12 Magpies Accountancy, which was officially voted for by Hadleigh town councillors to supply services at £35 an hours.

The contract will start on March 1 and Hadleigh town mayor Gordon McLeod has failed to respond to Nub News asking if Ms Barnes' current employment contract with the council will still be in effect or has she handed in her notice.

Only one councillor, Peter Gower, voted against the motion, with Cllr Rolf Beggerow abstaining, but all other councillors present voted in favour, despite not knowing full details of the firm or carrying out due diligence.

Brame made RFO and 12 Magpies appointed Full story here

Ms Barnes gained her AAT accountancy credentials while working as the Hadleigh Town Council project officer and Responsible Financial Officer.

It is understood at least part of her accreditation course was paid for by the tax-payer, according to council accounts.

Two former councillors reacted angrily when the evidence was presented to them and expressed their shock and outrage, but were not surprised.

Mr Roberts said: "I realised last Thursday when the clerk was so evasive about 12 Magpies when being questioned by councillors that something was not right. 

To give a contract to a close associate and colleague, with no background documents, and with many alternative local suppliers available, and not reveal to councillors the association, even under questioning, is highly irregular. It seems a wilful abuse of the councillors' and public's trust in the clerk. 

"Whatever the legality, which should be investigated, it seems to me, and I imagine to other Hadleigh taxpayers, that awarding a contract in this way to a fellow or recent ex-staff member is unethical at best. Wrong, and damaging to the reputation of Hadleigh Town Council, and indeed to the town itself."

Ms Wiltshire added: "I'm afraid that this isn't surprising to those of us who have been paying attention. 

"It's great that some councillors spoke up, but frankly it's all too little too late. Anyone who has been following the council over the last few years could have seen this coming. The council has created an untenable dynamic with the tail wagging the dog. It stinks. It's hard to imagine what it would take for people to resign or be disciplined on this council. This is one more bad thing in a whole list of bad things, but nothing is ever done about them."

All councillors were contacted by Nub News and asked what they knew about 12 Magpies, and when. None responded.

They were also asked:

Do you feel this action by your clerk Wendy Brame is:

• Acceptable
• Immoral
• Unethical
• Illegal
• and/or Gross Misconduct?

Mrs Brame was contacted for comment but her out of office (until Wednesday) message told us to contact the town's project officer - Alicja Barnes.

Ms Barnes was also contacted at both her council email and 12 Magpies' business email.

She has not yet responded.

The council's own Financial Regulations state:

10.2. All members and officers are responsible for obtaining value for money at all times. An officer issuing an official order shall ensure as far as reasonable and practicable that the best available terms are obtained in respect of each transaction, usually by obtaining three or more quotations or estimates from appropriate suppliers, subject to any de minimis provisions in Regulation 11.1 below.

Section 11

1. Any invitation to tender issued under this regulation shall be subject to Standing Orders and shall refer to the terms of the Bribery Act 2010.
2. h) When it is to enter into a contract of less than £25,000 in value for the supply of goods or materials or for the execution of works or specialist services other than such goods, materials, works or specialist services as are excepted as set out in paragraph (a) the RFO shall obtain 3 quotations (priced descriptions of the proposed supply); where the value is below £5,000 and above £500 the RFO shall strive to obtain 3 estimates. Otherwise, Regulation 10.3 above shall apply.
3. i) TheCouncilshallnotbeobligedtoacceptthelowestoranytender,quoteorestimate.
4. j) Should it occur that the Council, or duly delegated committee, does not accept any tender, quote or estimate, the work is not allocated and the Council requires further pricing, provided that the specification does not change, no person shall be permitted to submit a later tender, estimate or quote who was present when the original decision-
5. making process was being undertaken.

While councillor misconduct can be dealt with under the Code of Conduct process by Babergh district council monitoring office, staff matters are dealt with by individual town, or parish councils. Or, if fraud is suspected, by the police.