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Crime panel raps 'inconsistent' Cumbria police commissioner
Mr Rhodes was issued with a series of questions from the panel after details of his expenses were leaked and three people two of them police workers were arrested,www.fumuseums.ru/node/87573,meriwdtg.bloghut.in/2013/10/30/pandora-gold-beads-the-bruce-defeated-the-english/.
He faced a barrage of criticism over the arrests, which came after staff in his office alerted police to the leaking of travel invoices for two chauffeurdriven trips that he made to evening engagements.
The chairwoman of the crime panel,www.babyteethtracker.com/content/lauren-polo-ralph-power-get-me-out-soreness,www.3xf.se/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?451.last, which oversees the commissioner's office, Celia Tibble, told Mr Rhodes "much of the confusion and concern around this issue could have been avoided if statements you issued had been clearer."
She said he now denied asking the Chief Constable to review the investigation, which he previously said he did.
CT: When exactly did you make the decision to stop using such vehicles?
RR: As soon as I had details of the actual cost, some time in the week beginning 11 February 2013.
CT: Your spokesperson stated that you took the decision to repay the costs of these trips, but only after the issue was raised in the press. When exactly did you take that decision and why did you wait until the issue became public knowledge?
RR: As you know the cost of the use of the driven vehicle was published in the press in the week ending 5 April 2013. The information would have been published on my website in due course, but not in the timescale ultimately dictated by the media. I had been uncomfortable about the cost that had been incurred from the moment I became aware about it. I had been considering repaying the cost, but there had been no imperative to make the decision quickly.
Reflecting on the matter over the weekend of 6/7 April I decided to expedite the repayment of the cost of the journeys. On 8 April 2013 I requested, through the Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer, that it be deducted from my salary payment. This was an entirely personal decision as the arrangements had been made by my office in accordance with normal procurement procedures. I should stress that this was an expense that was legitimately incurred. I repaid it not because I was obliged to,www.officenetzwerk.de/page/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?2292.last, but because I wanted to.
CT: Your office has purchased a vehicle for your use, when was this vehicle purchased, what is its value and when was it delivered?
RR: As I have stated publicly, when I was first elected the possibility of me being allocated a driver was raised. The rationale for the suggestion was the amount of travelling I would be required to undertake to attend meetings and other engagements throughout the county in my new role. I rejected the proposal as overly expensive.
However,okgoo.ru/blogs/post/77236, it quickly became apparent that I was undertaking a significant amount of driving and reimbursing me for the use of my own car, even at the Inland Revenue approved rate of 45p per mile, was not the best use of public money. It was put to me that this scheme could be used to provide me with a vehicle for use in my role as Commissioner.
A vehicle was already available having been purchased for use within the scheme but not allocated. It was being stored by the provider. Once it had been decided to provide me with the vehicle it took several weeks for it to be prepared and delivered. When the vehicle was delivered it had some faults which necessitated it being returned to the dealer for attention. I record all my journeys in the vehicle and reimburse the cost of my private mileage,victorialifestyles.com/pandora-bracelets-australia-it-takes-courage-succeed. This is a taxable benefit,pyd.su/content/traininginfinance-shoulder-tote-name-agency. The purchase price of the vehicle is not disclosable as it was purchased through a Home Office framework agreement.
CT: You have stated that you have no influence over operational policing; however your statement said that you raised about this issue with constabulary.
The Section 151 Officer would be anxious that the matter was investigated to ascertain whether this was an isolated incident or the result of a system failure. The matter was raised at a face to face meeting with the Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable, which was also attended by the Constabulary Chief Finance Officer. In any event it would have become public knowledge through the newspaper coverage, at which point the matter would have to have been investigated. There is no correspondence, in any media, on this matter.
CT: You have also stated that you have the Chief Constable to review as a matter of urgency the scale and nature of the investigation. Could you clarify how this relates to the earlier part of the same statement where you said you had no powers to influence operational policing? Again please supply us with any written correspondence, including emails, relevant to this request to the Chief Constable.
RR: This is an operational matter and it is therefore a matter for the Chief Constable. I am sure he constantly reviews all operations. As you rightly say I have no powers to influence operational policing, though I do have overall responsibility for budgetary matters. I have not put this request to the Chief Constable. There is no correspondence in any form on this matter.
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