Officer will not face OCL probe

OLDHAM Community Leisure (OCL) is continuing to work with a senior financial officer despite him facing an investigation into alleged serious misconduct.

David Weldon, who shares his duties with OCL and Link4Life, which heads leisure and cultural services in Rochdale, could face disciplinary action by the Rochdale organisation after being accused of improper use of the charitable trust’s credit cards.

It has been reported Mr Weldon spent £991 on flights because he did not have a personal credit card at the time — but promptly paid it back.

He will not face a probe, on behalf of OCL, into the matter, despite a strategic alliance with Link4Life.

Stuart Lockwood, managing director at OCL, said: “I am aware of the situation, but there is no investigation by OCL.

“This is an internal matter for Link4Life and in terms of a working relationship with David Weldon there is no problem whatsoever. There are no issues within OCL either.”

Rochdale Council confirmed an emergency cabinet meeting was called earlier this month to discuss the issue and have asked the Link4Life board to launch a probe.

Both Link4Life’s managing director Craig McAteer and deputy managing director Peter Kilkenny are facing similar allegations.

OCL and Link4Life announced a strategic alliance in 2011 in a bid to deliver local leisure and cultural services more economically.

Mr Weldon’s role involves identifying where savings can be made, such as where one organisation is paying less than the other for goods and services.