By Paul Dicken
4 February 2010
The Wales Audit Office was left with a vacancy at the top yesterday after its auditor general Jeremy Colman stepped down suddenly following concerns about his personal conduct.
It has since emerged that the police have been drawn into the matter, although no specifics have been made public.
A statement released by the WAO today said: ‘Following an internal review at the Wales Audit Office, matters regarding Jeremy Colman’s personal conduct were referred to the police. We cannot comment any further but are co-operating fully with South Wales Police enquiries.’
Colman, who has held the post of auditor general since 2005, handed his resignation to the National Assembly for Wales’ Public Accounts Committee on February 3.
This will take immediate effect once it has been accepted by the Queen.
Colman’s five-year appointment was extended last year for a further three years and his sudden resignation came as a surprise.
Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood said Colman’s resignation was a ‘complete shock’.
A ground-breaking peer review into the WAO, carried out last year, raised concerns about how the organisation was managed.
Wood has looked into the running of the WAO, which is based in the South Wales Central area she represents. Freedom of Information requests she made showed the extent of employee discontent, with five managers subject to investigations or disciplinary proceedings following staff complaints since 2005.
She said: ‘I have previously called for an independent investigation into the running of the Wales Audit Office and I still believe that is necessary after Jeremy Colman’s departure.’
An interim replacement is likely to be appointed while a successor is found, with the newly created executive committee at the WAO currently responsible for day-to-day operations.
4 February 2010
The Wales Audit Office was left with a vacancy at the top yesterday after its auditor general Jeremy Colman stepped down suddenly following concerns about his personal conduct.
It has since emerged that the police have been drawn into the matter, although no specifics have been made public.
A statement released by the WAO today said: ‘Following an internal review at the Wales Audit Office, matters regarding Jeremy Colman’s personal conduct were referred to the police. We cannot comment any further but are co-operating fully with South Wales Police enquiries.’
Colman, who has held the post of auditor general since 2005, handed his resignation to the National Assembly for Wales’ Public Accounts Committee on February 3.
This will take immediate effect once it has been accepted by the Queen.
Colman’s five-year appointment was extended last year for a further three years and his sudden resignation came as a surprise.
Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood said Colman’s resignation was a ‘complete shock’.
A ground-breaking peer review into the WAO, carried out last year, raised concerns about how the organisation was managed.
Wood has looked into the running of the WAO, which is based in the South Wales Central area she represents. Freedom of Information requests she made showed the extent of employee discontent, with five managers subject to investigations or disciplinary proceedings following staff complaints since 2005.
She said: ‘I have previously called for an independent investigation into the running of the Wales Audit Office and I still believe that is necessary after Jeremy Colman’s departure.’
An interim replacement is likely to be appointed while a successor is found, with the newly created executive committee at the WAO currently responsible for day-to-day operations.
