THE fall-out from the Wragge Report and alleged dodgy land deals has taken another twist with Councillor Ian Jones appearance before the audit committee being cancelled because he was not invited to the meeting.

The News revealed on our front page on August 4 he was due to be questioned by the committee who wanted answers over land deals in the Wragge Report which investigated the sale of council land.

The Wragge Report cleared Cllr Jones of any wrongdoing but the council audit committee decided it wanted to question him at its meeting tonight (Thursday).

However, it emerged this afternoon he and former property services manager David Willetts had not got an official invitation to the meeting at Oldbury Council House on August 18.

Sandwell Council’s assistant chief executive Melanie Dudley said: “Members were expecting Councillor Ian Jones and former property services manager David Willetts to attend a meeting of tonight’s audit committee.

“I want to apologise profusely to members that Cllr Jones and Mr Willetts did not receive a timely invitation to the meeting and will instead be asked to attend the next meeting on 29 September.

“This was an officer error which will be dealt with and I will take action to ensure this does not happen again.”