Ex leader reveals he is in counter-fraud report

Joe Harris said he has referred himself to the monitoring officer

The former leader of a district council has revealed himself to be the mystery councillor mentioned in a counter fraud report.

The report did not find fault with Joe Harris, who stepped down as leader of Cotswold District Council (CDC) earlier this year, and while he does not believe he has done anything wrong, he said he has gone public for "complete transparency".

The move comes after the Conservative Party opposition at CDC wanted to lodge a formal code of conduct complaint against the councillor in the report but this was blocked as it needed to be made against a named member.

Mr Harris said he would also be referring himself to the monitoring officer.

A counter fraud investigation was launched in October 2024 after whistleblowing concerns were raised over procurement, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

CDC awarded more than £80,000 worth of work to companies with alleged undeclared links to officers and a councillor.

One of the three proposals was a recommendation from Mr Harris. The company which was awarded the work was recommended by an unnamed council officer.

While the report said the appointment was on the basis of an evaluation of quotations and proposals received from the companies, the evaluation was not in accordance with CDC's procurement processes.

CDC's leadership team reviewed the findings from the investigation and agreed an action plan. Internal controls around procurement have also been strengthened.

'Complete transparency'

Mr Harris, who is now highways cabinet member at Gloucestershire County Council, said he wanted "to be clear" that he was the councillor - then the cabinet member for communications - referred to in the report.

Mr Harris added he first became aware of the issues highlighted in the report in April, after the investigation - for which he said he was not interviewed or asked to provide evidence - had concluded.

He said the report was brought to his attention after he had announced he was stepping down as council leader, during his final month in the role.

"I do not believe I have done anything wrong," Mr Harris said.

"In the interests of complete transparency, I am voluntarily referring myself to the monitoring officer so that they, together with an independent person, can determine whether there has been any breach of the councillors' code of conduct," he added.

"I will publish the outcome in full once that assessment is complete."