AN external auditor has been called in to examine how Newton Abbot Town Council has conducted some of its business after a complaint was received from a member of the public.

An adjourned special meeting of the council was re-opened last week to discuss the annual internal audit report and to vote on it.

The meeting had been adjourned after a person challenged the council about how it runs aspects of its business. Details of the complaint have not been revealed nor has the identity of the person who made it.

Town Mayor, Cllr Carol Bunday, had agreed for the council to hear from a representative of Devon Audit Partnership before councillors reconsidered voting on their Annual Internal Audit Report and the Annual Governance Statement.

Following this town councillors voted to refer the matter to the auditor.

Newton Abbot Mayor, Cllr Carol Bunday, said after the meeting: ‘We welcome the fact that an individual has felt confident enough to challenge the council about the conduct of its business as this suggests our procedures for such matters are appropriate and effective.

‘All information supplied by this person has now been handed to an independent external auditor for examination and we will happily assist further if requested to do so.

‘Their findings will be published in due course but it is our belief that no shortcomings will be found.

‘We look forward to a timely resolution and will continue working in the interests of the town.’

After the meeting Cllr Phil Bullivant said: ‘We need an independent assessment and investigation into this so that people can be confident the council is running its business correctly.’