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http://coventryobserver.co.uk/2014/...against-council-over-Ricoh-funding-99270.html
MEP makes fraud claim against council over Ricoh funding
By Steve Carpenter Tuesday 11 March 2014 Updated: 11/03 10:08
MEP NIKKI Sinclaire is reporting the council to the European Union's anti-fraud department over the use of funding received for the Ricoh Arena project.
The council received £4.75 million in 2003 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which is given to help projects designed to benefit regional or local economies.
Ms Sinclaire, who in January called for the resignation of council leader Ann Lucas over the Ricoh row with the Sky Blues, made a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the council asking what the ERDF money was used for.
She made the same request to the European Commission but the answers did not match.
The council's response to the FOI request confirmed they had received the funding to assist with the purchase of the Ricoh site from HBG Holdings Limited and said the grant was not used for the construction of the stadium.
But the European Commission awarded the funding solely towards the cost of the conference and exhibition activity within the Arena development.
It was also given to support the creation of two bus hubs which enabled two public transport initiatives to take place in the area.
In a speech about the ERDF in Strasbourg, she said the council may have something to hide and has referred the matter to the EU anti-Fraud department, OLAF, for investigation into this use of taxpayers’ money.
Ms Sinclaire said: “ERDF is promoted as a benefit of the EU yet we see precious seldom of that fund which is after all the UK Taxpayers money being returned to us much reduced and with strings attached.
“With other information that has come to my attention in the past year, and the constant refusal of the council to meet with me about these discrepancies in funding I can only conclude they have something to hide.
“Imagine my surprise when the answer did not match. In fact they could not be further apart.
“When the Commission sought to ascertain the situation the council changed their position.
“There is something rotten at the heart of Coventry Council. Is there something fraudulent as well?”
Read more: MEP makes fraud claim against council over Ricoh funding | Coventry Observer
MEP makes fraud claim against council over Ricoh funding
By Steve Carpenter Tuesday 11 March 2014 Updated: 11/03 10:08
MEP NIKKI Sinclaire is reporting the council to the European Union's anti-fraud department over the use of funding received for the Ricoh Arena project.
The council received £4.75 million in 2003 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which is given to help projects designed to benefit regional or local economies.
Ms Sinclaire, who in January called for the resignation of council leader Ann Lucas over the Ricoh row with the Sky Blues, made a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the council asking what the ERDF money was used for.
She made the same request to the European Commission but the answers did not match.
The council's response to the FOI request confirmed they had received the funding to assist with the purchase of the Ricoh site from HBG Holdings Limited and said the grant was not used for the construction of the stadium.
But the European Commission awarded the funding solely towards the cost of the conference and exhibition activity within the Arena development.
It was also given to support the creation of two bus hubs which enabled two public transport initiatives to take place in the area.
In a speech about the ERDF in Strasbourg, she said the council may have something to hide and has referred the matter to the EU anti-Fraud department, OLAF, for investigation into this use of taxpayers’ money.
Ms Sinclaire said: “ERDF is promoted as a benefit of the EU yet we see precious seldom of that fund which is after all the UK Taxpayers money being returned to us much reduced and with strings attached.
“With other information that has come to my attention in the past year, and the constant refusal of the council to meet with me about these discrepancies in funding I can only conclude they have something to hide.
“Imagine my surprise when the answer did not match. In fact they could not be further apart.
“When the Commission sought to ascertain the situation the council changed their position.
“There is something rotten at the heart of Coventry Council. Is there something fraudulent as well?”
Read more: MEP makes fraud claim against council over Ricoh funding | Coventry Observer