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Council outlines plan to destroy loyalist bonfire probe papers

An audit report heavily criticised the bonfire group funding scheme for a raft of oversight and management failings
An audit report heavily criticised the bonfire group funding scheme for a raft of oversight and management failings An audit report heavily criticised the bonfire group funding scheme for a raft of oversight and management failings

A COUNCIL has set out plans to destroy documents at the centre of a scandal-hit scheme that awarded public money to pay for pallets burnt on loyalist bonfires.

The Irish News revealed in October that thousands of pounds intended for family events were instead used to fund wooden pallets.

A damning report commissioned following the revelation heavily criticised the Antrim council initiative for exposing public money to an "increased risk of fraud".

The audit also expressed concern over an MLA's role in awarding a bouncy castle enterprise he is involved in almost £11,000 from the bonfire fund.

Antrim and Newtownabbey council has sent the report to the Audit Office and the Northern Ireland Ombudsman.

The cache of correspondence and documents at the centre of the probe has now been earmarked for destruction.

However, it will not be disposed of any time soon. It is proposed that some documents should be kept for another seven years and others for three before being destroyed.

The council added the documents to a list of papers to be binned as part of its Retention and Disposal Schedule.

The policy aims to ensure the prompt disposal of council records when they cease to be of use.

It says the retention of such documents represents a "resource burden" in areas such as storage and Freedom of Information Act obligations.

Concerns over the bonfire scheme were only uncovered following freedom of information requests.

The funding initiative allowed Antrim-area groups organising Eleventh Night bonfires to apply for funding for related events such as family fun days.

They submitted invoices and receipts to the council, and the scheme was overseen by a sub-committee that includes councillors and community representatives.

It emerged that more than £8,200 in ratepayers' cash was spent since 2012 on materials for the pyres including petrol and wooden pallets.

This is despite council funding rules saying that bonfire groups should only receive money for related 'family fun events' and not for building bonfires.

The Irish News also revealed the UUP's Adrian Cochrane-Watson was on the bonfire funding sub-committee but did not declare an interest – despite his role in a bouncy castle enterprise receiving payments.

The ex-councillor, who was last year co-opted to replace South Antrim MP Danny Kinahan at Stormont, has rejected concerns.

He said he does not own Antrim-based Bouncy King NI and has never financially benefited from it – but admitted that one of his daughters may have received an "ad hoc wage".

The new Antrim and Newtownabbey council is currently reviewing its bonfire management programme to produce a new policy for future years.

The council said its disposal schedule was agreed last month and will be sent to the assembly for approval.

A spokeswoman said: "It is a statutory requirement of all public authorities to have a retention and disposal schedule.

"Retention and disposal schedules assist organisations to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 in that information should be accurate and up to date and also information should not be kept longer than is necessary."