A MEETING has been held at Brierley Town Council to answer questions about why former clerk Jan Cooper had managed to get away with fraudulent activity for so long.
Cooper, 52, was jailed for eight years last October, after admitting stealing almost £300,000 and signing Brierley Town Council up to loans of £700,000.
In a fraught meeting, councillors faced 12 questions put to them by resident Bob Weldon, of Briar Grove.
He asked why money coming from the drawings account - which should only be used for immediate or emergency items - was being used to make large payments, and why it went on for 13 months without anyone recognising it.
Couns Alex Vodden, Malcolm Davies, Tony Parkinson and Pat Doyle were the only councillors at the meeting last Thursday, who were on the council when Cooper was clerk.
Mayor Tony Parkinson said Cooper was a 'professional' and no one could be blamed for not recognising what was going on.
"She was very good at what she did, she was an expert. We cannot blame anyone for not spotting this."
** The full story is in the Barnsley Chronicle, dated October 17. **
