COUNCIL complaints about police delays in investigating alleged commercial grant irregularities in Pembroke Dock have been delayed by the council itself, members of the county council will hear this Thursday, October 11.

Hakin councillor Mike Stoddart uncovered the claimed irregularities in a council-administered Commercial Property Grant Scheme (CPGS) in Pembroke and Pembroke Dock, funded by the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO).

Irregular payments of around £60,000 were found to have been made to developer Cathal McCosker - in respect of properties on Dimond Street and Meyrick Street - who offered to pay back a total of £180,000 having received payments for other projects.

The council had to repay £309,000 to WEFO and take steps to rewrite the CPGS procedure manual to close loopholes in order to minimise the opportunities for fraud stated Cllr Stoddart.

His evidence was reported to police in 2014.

In January Pembrokeshire County Council’s audit committee agreed a notice of motion by Cllr Stoddart that read: “This authority resolves to complain to the Police Complaints Commission regarding the length of time taken to conclude investigations into the irregularities in the Pembroke Dock Commercial Properties Grants Scheme.”

This was approved by the committee, with an amendment made to the watchdog body, now called the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

At the March 8 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, members backed a committee decision to complain to Dyfed-Powys Police about the four-year delay in finishing an investigation into alleged commercial grant irregularities.

However, since then, Cllr Stoddart claims there has been a delay in getting things moving by the council itself.

At the October 11 meeting, Cllr Stoddart will ask: “Can the Leader [Cllr David Simpson] explain why it took almost five weeks for this resolution to be actioned?”

He will also ask: “What response, if any, has the council received from the Independent Office for Police Conduct?”