District Auditor checks on hospitality offers

The move comes after a senior officer, Stuart Knight, admitted at an industrial tribunal making an "error of judgment" in claiming expenses to attend a football match after tickets were offered by a company connected to plans to redevelop the Market Hall.

Bernard Summers, the council's head of agency and development in the Corporate Services Department, complained that Mr Knight, his manager, had breached the council's code of conduct by accepting the tickets for Bolton Wanderers' match against Chelsea in London.

He claimed that he was subsequently victimised by Mr Knight, the assistant director of central services, and later resigned.

But Mr Knight, while admitting an "error of judgment", told the tribunal the trip had not a "jolly" but had been for work purposes.

Mr Knight denied Mr Summers's accusations, but admitted he should not have claimed travel expenses for the trip to London organised by Warner Estates.

Mr Summers is claiming constructive dismissal. The tribunal has reserved judgment and will report its findings later.

The council leader, Cllr Barbara Ronson, said an internal review was being held by senior council officers to prevent a repeat of the hearing held into Mr Summers' claims.

"We will be looking at the District Auditor's recommendations, along with any comments made by the tribunal chairman, when we look at how we can improve our procedures," she said.

"It is vital that the public perceive the council to be operating above board and that is what the council strives to do."

The council's rules with respect to the offer of any gift or hospitality to any officer are set out in its Code of Conduct for Employees, which says all offers must be recorded and monitored.

Over the past two years, 14 senior members of staff have accepted offers of hospitality and five members of staff have declined them.

In the same period, six gifts have been accepted by members of staff and donated to the annual Mayor's Charity.