The district auditor could be called in to find out why the conclusions of an investigation into a Tamil school accused of mishandling thousands of pounds worth of taxpayers’ money have been delayed, if it is not made public in the next few weeks.
The investigation by Kingston Council came after a complaint by Nathan Kumar, the chairman of the British Tamil Forum, into grants totalling £12,989-a-year to the Institute of Tamil Culture (ITC), which runs classes, using rooms at Tolworth Girls’ School at weekends.
A draft report into the accounts and financial governance arrangements has been completed for several weeks, but the charity’s trustees were shown the report and given time to make changes.
The council told the Surrey Comet in June it was not likely to be finalised for several weeks but the Tamil School said a week later it was "imminent".
They have said they have nothing to hide and are co-operating with the investigation.
Councillor Steve Mama said: "They have to release the report sooner or later. They can’t just make it secret."
He said if the report was not released before the council’s accounts are opened to the public in August he would consider referring the complaint to the district auditor.
Councillor Bob Steed defended the delay. He said: "It has gone on longer because we needed to clarify a few facts in the report."
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