Police in England have confirmed that no criminal charges will be brought against officers at Caerphilly County Borough Council over unlawful payments made to staff.
In December last year, a special public interest report from the Wales Audit Office concluded that payments totalling almost £220,000 to ‘buy out’ car and annual leave allowances were unlawful.
The payments, made early in 2012, were part of an agreement to compensate senior bosses who were giving up car and annual leave allowances to bring them in line with other workers.
The report said the decision to make the one-off payments was done without proper authority or clear recording of how the decision was made.
Gwent Police, after reviewing the report, referred the matter to Avon and Somerset Police for investigation.
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police confirmed its investigation is over and said: “Advice has been sought from the CPS South West Complex Case Unit, who have determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution.”
It was the second time that Gwent Police had referred a Wales Audit Office report to colleagues over the bridge. The first was in relation to the controversial pay awards handed to senior council bosses.
That investigation resulted in the council’s chief executive Anthony O’Sullivan, its deputy chief executive Nigel Barnett and head of legal services Daniel Perkins being charged with misconduct in a public office.
O’Sullivan, 55, of Merthyr Tydfil, Barnett, 51, of Aberbargoed and Perkins, 48, of Brynmawr, all appeared at Bristol Crown Court on October 3.
However, their case has been adjourned until a second hearing scheduled for January.
A trial had originally been due to begin in the new year, but delays have meant the date has now been pushed back.
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s interim chief executive Chris Burns, who was appointed in July this year, sent an email to councillors on October 7 updating them on the matter.
He wrote: “This additional delay is obviously frustrating for all concerned but the council has no option but to allow the proper legal process to take its course.”