A £14,400 BILL has been handed to North Weald parish council by the Audit Commission, following its investigation into the council's 1999-2000 parish accounts.

Just one resident's complaints to the Audit Commission, which oversees regular auditing of parish and town council's accounts, can bring about an investigation. Although North Weald parish council was entirely cleared, under the Audit Commission Act 1998 investigated councils must pay for the work carried out and legal costs accrued from day one.

The district auditor said: "Objections to a local authority's accounts are rare. Where they do occur, however, it's recognised that the authority in question will meet the cost of the objection. In this case the amount relates to the investigation and legal fees incured."

The parish council was astounded to hear that while the Audit Commission dragged its heels, taking four years to complete the investigation, the "meter was running" for the council.

Chairman Bob Wood said: "From the outset we were aware the bill would be coming but to have to pay this much is surprising. Something needs to be brought in to advise councils, to say how much they've clocked up."

Councillors agreed that if they had known the extent of the expense, they could have allowed for it in the precept in March.

Council vice-chairman Cyril Hawkins said: "We've lived with this for four years now and I think it's time we put this to bed, since we have the money in reserve. The first cut is always the deepest but if we have to pay, we have to pay."

Councillors voted to offer the commission a £5,000 payment now, taken from their reserve funds, and pay the rest next year, although some councillors voiced concerns about dipping into council savings.

Councillor Anne Grigg said: "We've got some very important things coming up, such as employing a consultant for the RPG14 (a controversial local planning document) and my view is that there are other things out there that shouldn't be cut."

However the council agreed that taking funds from reserve would not require any cutbacks from this year's services or activities.