A debate over delays dealing with complaints about a fraud investigation sparked claims that the council chief executive’s “cosy relationship” with police was the root of the problem.

Ian Westley strongly denied that his “good working relationship” with Dyfed-Powys Police was a reason for him not sending a letter on the behalf of full council complaining about the length of time it was taking to deal with alleged grant irregularities.

He was accused by Cllr Jacob Williams of letting the letter of complaint come from the council’s chairman Cllr Paul Harries in a bid to “distance himself, to avoid rocking the boat.”

“This was the source of any confusion, if you had sent it this five week delay would never have occurred,” argued Cllr Williams, at Thursday’s (January 24) corporate resources overview and scrutiny committee.

Mr Westley said Cllr Williams was making a “serious allegation” and it was “complete fabrication.”

“It suggests a lack of trust in your paid head of service, that’s a serious issue.

“I don’t ride shy of writing difficult letters or instructions to anybody,” added Mr Westley.

The issue relates to a long running police investigation into alleged grant irregularities in Pembroke Dock.

Pembrokeshire County Council became concerned over the length of time the investigation was taking and decided to write to make its feelings known.

But the letter was not sent for five weeks and, when a response was received, councillors were not told.

Mr Westley said that the initial confusion over who should draft the letter of complaint about the Pembroke and Pembroke Dock property scheme allegations led to a five week today and he apologised for that.

The committee was told it was an “oversight” that the response given to the chairman was not disseminated more widely and there could be an argument to argue “exceptional circumstances” in terms of appealing the police complaints decision.

A lack of liaison between council officers led to the failure to inform the then chairman of the audit committee.

Mr Westly’s inquiries “found no indication of any deliberate intent to deny members’ access to this correspondence for any reason. Lessons should and will be learned from the circumstances apparent.”

Cllr Tony Barron also raised concerns about what he believed to be inaccurate details in the police response, including not listing the council as a victim in the grants investigation and that a computer had been lost when it had not.

He wrote to correct this at a similar time to the delay in informing councillors of the complaint decision.

He added at Thursday’s meeting that the inaccuracies had been corrected.