Council will 'audit' MetPro contract (From Times Series)

Barnet Council chief executive orders 'audit' of secret filming firm MetPro's contract

3:00pm Wednesday 6th April 2011 in News By Alex Hayes

AN “AUDIT” is to be carried out over Barnet Council’s contract with controversial security firm MetPro.

Today chief executive Nick Walkley has sanctioned officers to examine closely the “arrangements surrounding this contract with MetPro”.

The move comes after a group of residents called for a full independent inquiry into how MetPro, which went bust last month, came to be given the contract and how they were allowed to secretly film people attending last month’s full council budget setting meeting.

Barnet Council has already denied sanctioning the secret filming, and today added in a statement: “Once the council was aware MetPro had gone into liquidation it terminated its contract, as is normal practice.

“Given the circumstances of the termination, the Chief Executive Nick Walkley has asked for a full audit of the arrangements surrounding this contract with MetPro.

“This will also make sure that any lessons learned will be passed on to the rest of the organisation.

"Any such report would go before the audit committee as part of its normal activity."