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17th January 2026

A local resident has raised serious concerns about the handling of a substantial financial irregularity by Stockport Council. According to the resident, a missing sum of £6 million was brought to the attention of the council’s Leader, Liberal Democrat Mark Roberts, but no formal action was taken.

The resident, a 70-year-old local lady, alleges that rather than investigating or escalating the matter, she was threatened by the Leader in front of witnesses to stop speaking or writing about the issue.

“This is a matter of public accountability,” she said. “I am a senior citizen, and I brought a serious financial concern to the attention of those in charge. Instead of protecting the public interest, I was intimidated into silence.”

Local governance experts emphasize that council leaders have statutory responsibilities to act when significant financial irregularities are reported. Under UK law, particularly Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) must ensure proper administration of council finances, and the council’s Leader must ensure that any material issues are escalated appropriately.

The resident’s claims highlight the importance of transparent procedures and protections for whistleblowers, especially when large sums of public money are involved.

Stockport Council has not provided an official response to these allegations.

https://theromileygazette.substack.com/p/project-costs-rise-from-55-million

Responsibilities of a Council Leader on a £6 million Irregularity

If a significant financial issue like £6 million missing is reported to the Leader of a council, they have legal, statutory, and governance obligations.

1️⃣ Immediate acknowledgment

  • The leader must take the report seriously and acknowledge it formally.
  • They cannot ignore it — failing to act could expose the council and themselves to legal liability.

2️⃣ Notify the statutory finance officer

  • The Leader must inform the Section 151 Officer (the council’s statutory Chief Finance Officer).
  • Under Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Section 151 Officer is legally responsible for the council’s financial administration.
  • The Section 151 Officer must investigate, ensure proper accounting, and report as required.

3️⃣ Escalate internally

The Leader ensures the issue is escalated through proper internal channels:

  1. Section 151 Officer – reviews financial records, assesses impact, and manages accounting/legal compliance.
  2. Internal Audit – investigates the irregularity, collects evidence, and produces a report.
  3. Senior management (e.g., Chief Executive, Deputy CE, Corporate Directors) – determine operational and legal responses.

For a £6 million sum, this is a high‑priority issue, likely affecting multiple directorates.

4️⃣ Reporting to elected members

  • The Leader must ensure that the Executive / Cabinet (including Lead Member for Finance) is formally briefed.
  • Decisions regarding recovery, disciplinary action, and legal measures are taken collectively with the Executive.

5️⃣ External reporting

For material amounts like £6 million:

  • External Auditors (Audit Commission in 2008) must be notified.
  • If fraud or criminality is suspected: Police or fraud investigators are involved.
  • Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG, now DLUHC) may be notified if statutory financial control is at risk.

6️⃣ Documentation

  • Every step must be carefully documented for audit and legal compliance.
  • This includes:
    • Initial report
    • Internal investigation findings
    • Actions taken by management and the Executive

7️⃣ Summary of the escalation pathway

Staff / Whistleblower
       │
       ▼
Council Leader
       │
       ▼
Section 151 Officer (statutory Chief Finance Officer)
       │
       ▼
Internal Audit
       │
       ▼
Senior Leadership / Chief Executive / Corporate Directors
       │
       ▼
Executive / Cabinet (Lead Member for Finance)
       │
       ▼
External Auditors / Police / DCLG (if needed)

A missing £6 million is well above materiality thresholds, so ignoring it is not an option. The Leader’s role is to ensure proper escalation, legal compliance, and reporting, not to investigate personally.