So we now know that during the reign of Lord Hanningfield the council had no proper accountability for its personal finances and there was no system in place for periodic audits.

It is difficult to believe such an organisation was so incompetent and must have led to massive losses of public money through mismanagement. I assume that those responsible have now been relieved of their positions and will not be employed by the council in that capacity again.

Having served in the forces for 30 years and been responsible for a whole garrison’s financial claims for thousands of military personnel, it beggars belief that this could have happened.

If I had been found wanting, I would have lost everything and if involved personally, I’d have lost my pension and my rank together with a dishonourable discharge.

It would seem that under the present regime proper checks are in place and this should never happen again.

Jimmy Green
St Osyth