Bradley Stoke Town Council’s external auditor will take no action over an Extraordinary General Meeting called to discuss the Northavon Bowls Club row.

Pictured: The meeting which caused Lib Dem John Kiely to complain

The town council and bowls club are involved in a dispute over a rental agreement for the green at Bailey’s Court.

The Bradley Stoke authority wants to raise charges by some 8% but members of Northavon Bowls Club say they cannot afford the rise.

Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate John Kiely complained to the auditors about the EGM saying councillors were not given enough information to make an informed decision on the dispute.

The stormy meeting eventually saw councillors decide to resend a previous contract offer including an 8% rise with an ultimatum to sign it or leave the green.

The contract offer was snubbed by the bowlers who have since removed their equipment from Bailey’s Court.

The external auditors rejected Mr Kiely’s complaint saying the councillors present were verbally briefed and no written report was needed.

In a four-point reply the auditor has ruled that a report given to the council was verbal and no written report was needed and that options outlined in that briefing were suggestions on how to move forward.

The auditor has also stated that no councillors have complained over a lack of information and that the final proposal put forward was from somebody outside the working group who had been involved in negotiations.

The letter to Mr Kiely added: “On the basis of the above information, which is consistent with the minutes of the meeting published recently on the council’s website, I do not consider there is any action that my Firm [the auditors, Mazars] needs to take in our capacity as the Council’s external auditor.”

Mr Kiely says he does “not find it [the reply] very satisfactory” and is planning to take up the issue with the Audit Commission.

Read the reply from the auditor here (PDF file, 5.5mb – sorry, it’s big!)