NO apologies were made and no-one was named at the emotionally charged meeting of Preston Council to discuss the long-awaited report on Operation Angel.

The auditor's report concentrated on land deals made by Preston Borough Council in the 1980s which were the subject of a police investigation.

No councillor, past or present, was convicted of any offence connected with the findings.

Cash lost by the council during this period could run into millions of pounds but people who packed the public gallery expecting to hear who was responsible were left none the wiser at the end of the six-hour debate.

Council leader David Borrow, in his resolution, admitted: 'There were major failings in the way the council handled aspects of the Riversway development and various building contracts and land deals."

But he stopped short of an apology, despite a proposed amendment to that effect by Liberal Democrat Bill Chadwick. The report claimed "the investigation identified inappropriate and, in some cases, criminal behaviour by a small number of officers and members."

Cllr Albert Richardson demanded to know who they were and to be given evidence about other assertions in the report. His questions will be discussed at the next Policy and Resources meeting.

But Mr Borrow refused to name names, declaring: "It is for the court justice system to name those guilty of criminal activity."

The meeting resolved to implement the actions proposed by the auditors report including defining and maintaining the roles of officers and members.

After the meeting, Conservative leader Joe Hood said: "The council has made a sensible response to the auditor's report. I think the fact they have admitted things were so terribly wrong and there's a determination to put things right and to pursue anyone for monies owed to the council is a plus."

David Borrow said he was pleased the council was able to unanimously agree on a plan of action. But Bill Chadwick was disappointed there was no public apology from the Labour group.

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