Northern Ireland

Audit Office to review council's policy change after DUP dinner probe

DUP North Antrim MP Ian Paisley
DUP North Antrim MP Ian Paisley

THE Audit Office is to review a council's decision to relax its events spending policy after the watchdog probed a £1,500 payment towards a DUP dinner hosted by Ian Paisley.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (MEABC) had a spending limit of £500 on attending gala dinners or events.

The Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) found the council broke its own rules and issued recommendations, including that MEABC should consider amending its policy.

In response, the council has removed the spending limit and will also allow senior staff to decide on payments for future events involving officials without seeking councillors' approval.

Most councillors backed the decision, but some have criticised the move and warned it means "much less transparency" over public spending.

MEABC and another council each paid £1,500 to attend the 2017 event in Ballymena which featured British environment secretary Michael Gove.

The payments are being investigated by the Electoral Commission because they are being treated as 'donations' to the North Antrim MP and councils are not considered "permissible donors".

A spokesman for NIAO said the policy change will be reviewed as part of its next audit of the council.

"Following the 2017/18 audit of Mid and East Antrim council, the local government auditor recommended that the council should consider amending its policy on attendance at gala dinners and events," he said.

"Progress against these recommendations will be reviewed with the council as part of our preparations for the 2018/19 audit.

"If we have any concerns with the way recommendations have been implemented these will be raised in our report to those charged with governance which is sent to the council at the conclusion of our annual audit procedures."