COUNCILLORS were left asking why action couldn’t have been taken sooner as a post mortem of Cheshire East Council’s recent failings took place.

Members of the audit and governance committee discussed air quality management manipulation, failure to pay the minimum wage for sleep-in shifts and the failure to sign off the council’s external audit for a second year in a row.

At the meeting on September 28, it was revealed reports available to auditors could not be read by members of the committee while police investigations were ongoing – leading to members seeking more power to tackle major problems before they arise.

Cllr Tony Dean, Conservative member for Knutsford, said: “What’s happened is extremely embarrassing for all of us.

"Can we get things to this committee early enough to stop things like this happening?”

Cllr Nick Mannion, Labour member for Macclesfield West and Ivy, said: “Our reputation as an organisation has been badly damaged by this.

"We need to go that extra mile in the communities that have been affected.

“We are moving in the right direction but the reputation has been damaged and it will take time to rebuild it amongst residents.”

At the meeting it was also revealed that back-payments for sleep-in shifts were expected to cost CEC £200,000.

The council announced last week that it would make the payments to members of staff who had not been paid the minimum wage for sleep-in shifts, such as care workers, over the past two years.

Members of the audit and governance committee were told that 'approximately 160' members of staff were affected, while CEC is investigating whether payments should go back as far as six years – which could cost a further £100,000.