The Silent Treatment: 12 Weeks and Counting

Because the accounts were published late, the lawful “Public Inspection” period was pushed back to autumn.  When three residents visited the Civic Centre during this delayed window to inspect the books – an appointment confirmed by the council – nobody was there to meet them, except, after almost an hour of waiting, an untrained junior staff member with a notebook but no answers.

Pete Carpenter (Director of Statutory Accounts) apologised and agreed to treat our questions as valid.  Since then, we have been met with a wall of broken promises:

• Nov 6th: Questions submitted in person.
• Nov 18th: Mr Carpenter states in person (outside Audit Committee) that he would have answers soon.
• Dec 9th: Mr Carpenter states in person (outside Pensions Committee) that he has “most of the answers.”
• Jan 21st: Mr Carpenter emails to promise a response “by the end of the week.”
• Feb 1st: Still no answers.

This week Mr Carpenter was named as the Council’s Deputy Chief Financial Officer (“Deputy Section 151 Officer”).  If the man in charge of the accounts cannot answer questions about them after 12 weeks, what hope does the average resident have?

Read more of our February 2026 series

• Introduction: Mistakes, misjudgements, or systemic breakdown? 
• 1. The £150m Bailout: “Accounting Adjustments” vs Reality
• 2. The Culture of “Late”: From Accounts to Budgets
• 3. The “Theo’s Café” Scandal: Claims of cronyism and confirmed secrecy
• 4. The Silent Treatment: 12 Weeks and Counting
• 5. Putting Residents First? Not always
• 6. An addiction to “Special Urgency” – for secrecy or last minute work?
• 7. The secret £3.3m planning system
• 8. Decision-Making Based on Flawed Data
• 9. Are they taking heed of the “Section 24” warnings?
• Summary: The Case for Concern – is something broken at our Civic Centre?
• What Now? What do you think? You have until Wednesday to tell the Council

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