The future of Cheshire East council leader Michael Jones is in doubt after rumours spread that he is to quit.
Coun Jones is believed to have told members of the Conservative Party that he will be stepping down from his role.
He could not be contacted for comment as the Express went to press but is due to make an announcement tomorrow (Wednesday, December 9) at midday.
A Conservative councillor - who asked not to be named - told the Express Councillor Jones was to step down , but that no reasons had been given as to why.
Calls had been made for an independent investigation after three council contracts worth up to £156,000 were given to Coun Jones’ physiotherapist.
Council officers waived normal rules to award Core Fit – run by Coun Jones’ physio Amanda Morris – a contract to provide fitness classes at primary schools and community centres after it carried out a successful pilot scheme.
Coun Jones denied any involvement in the waiver process or procurement.
But at a cabinet meeting today (Tuesday, December 8) he said would not be answering any more questions about the contracts.
He said: “I will be making an announcement tomorrow at 12pm and today I will be taking no questions on anything to do with bullying or Core Fit.”
The Express revealed in October that council officers waived the normal rules to award Core Fit a contract to provide fitness classes at primary schools and community centres across Cheshire East.
The Cheshire East leader has stated he played no part in awarding the contracts to run fitness sessions in schools and community centres.
Last week he said he had “no knowledge” of the contracts until the Express started asking questions in October.
But emails between the council leader and Amanda Morris between February and August this year – released by the council in response to a Freedom of Information request – suggest he was aware of the contracts and lobbied on behalf of Core Fit.
Emails from June show Coun Jones emailed an evaluation of the Core Fit pilot to Amanda Morris.
An email from Coun Jones to Ms Morris in June this year, titled ‘Core fit assessment’ included a copy of the evaluation stating the benefits of the scheme. It said: “Initial results are very promising.”
Ms Morris emailed back with a suggested addition to the evaluation.
Ms Morris was then asked to approve a letter from Coun Jones to Chancellor and Tatton MP George Osborne in August promoting the benefits of Core Fit and also Positive Mind Fit – the business Amanda Morris set up after being awarded a contract for ‘mind health training’ in schools.
MP George Osborne would not comment on the letter or calls for an investigation into the Core Fit contracts.
In a statement issued to the Express last Wednesday (December 2), relating to calls for his resignation, Coun Jones said: “After the tremendous news of the last week, culminating in the huge HS2 announcement I am not surprised that the media have revisited the old story of my non-involvement in procurement.
“I shall not be resigning but thank the mayor for recognising the many good things I have achieved.
“I am disappointed, given that I vigorously sponsored her mayoralty to my group, at the comments made. But that is Hilda for you.
“I am clear that I have not misled council.”
Timeline of events for Core Fit furore
June 2014
Amanda Morris was awarded a £20,000 contract to ‘provide a pilot core fitness training programme’ in primary schools. Normal procurement rules were waived.
September 2014
Core Fit Ltd was incorporated with Companies House.
February 2015
Cheshire East put out a year-long contract worth up to £115,000 to run fitness sessions in schools and community centres, attracting bidders including Core Fit.
March 2015
The contract worth up to £115,000 was given to Core Fit, without the tender process being completed.
April 2015
Senior officers signed a form to waive the council’s normal procurement rules for the £115,000 contract. It stated this was done to ‘carry out a full evaluation of the pilot scheme’.
May 2015
A third contract was issued outside the normal tendering rules – this time for £21,000 to run ‘mind health
training’ in schools as part of the pilot scheme.June 2015
Documents state £7,000 was paid to Amanda Morris from council leader’s Your Money fund. The council later states this was a mistake and the money came from a reserve budget left over from the original fund.
July 2015
Amanda Morris registered a company called Positive Mind Fit Ltd with Companies House.
September 2015
Documents state another £13,000 was paid to Amanda Morris from leader’s Your Money fund. The council later states this was labelled incorrectly.
October 2015
Michael Jones admitted at a full council meeting that he introduced his physio to the council but said he had no involvement in procurement.
The Express revealed details of the £115,000 contract awarded to Core Fit. Labour councillors call for an investigation.November 2015
Conservative councillors joined calls for an independent external investigation. Chief executive Mike Suarez stated there is no need for an external investigation.
December 2015
Mayor Hilda Gaddum revealed she wrote to Michael Jones to ask him to resign and alleged that he misled the council. Michael Jones issued a statement saying he would not resign.
