Audit Commission chairman, Michael O'Higgins, has hit out at the Government for what he claimed were ‘factual inaccuracies' following Eric Pickles' announcement he would scrap the watchdog.
Speaking to The MJ this week, Mr O'Higgins claimed he wanted to defend the commission ‘in fairness to the staff'. He added: ‘Being abolished is one thing. Being abused is another.'
Mr O'Higgins' defence of his staff came amid an ‘outpouring and expression of loyalty from the staff for the commission.' He told The MJ he was keen to pursue discussions with Mr Pickles on the possibility of an employee buy-out of some parts of the commission's work.
An extra board meeting is being planned for the end of August, in a bid to discuss the prospect, but as yet, there are no details of how the proposals could work. Mr O'Higgins said: ‘We will try to have some answers for the staff sooner rather than later.'
Earlier this week, Mr O'Higgins wrote an open letter to the secretary of state, outlining his concerns over accusations the Government levelled at the commission in the wake of the announcement late last week.
Mr O'Higgins claimed the commission:
