A SENIOR member of Thurrock Council’s staff is under investigation and has been suspended from her high profile role.
Kathryn Adedeji is the authority’s Head of Housing – Investment and Development and Corporate Commercial Services. YT understands she is the subject of a Council investigation, supported by the Met Police, in connection with possible fraudulent activity.
No details have been given.
The Council runs its own fraud investigation team which has been recognised as one of the best in the country and it is believed they have instigated the probe into Ms Adedeji, which is being carried out with police support, though both Essex and the Metropolitan Police services have declared no knowledge of the situation or what had been reported to be the arrest of Ms Adedeji at her London home.
A spokesperson for the Met said: “We have no knowledge of this arrest or investigation.”
Part of Ms Adedeji’s role, which carries a salary of more than £90,000, means she is head of the Council’s procurement service. She has taken a high profile role in much of the Council’s lauded housing regeneration programme, working with many of the Council’s major contractual partners in housebuilding and property maintenance and community initiatives.
A statement from the authority’s press office said: “Thurrock Council is aware that a member of staff is the subject of an investigation. The officer has been suspended pending the outcome of that investigation.”
The Council has said it will make no further comment at this time. Senior councillors have been briefed about the situation.
