MACHYNLLETH Town Council hopes to publish their missing accounts, for the past two years, early in the new year.

In April, town councillors Gareth Jones and Monica Atkins threatened to resign from the council if the accounts from December 2019 were not made public.

Cllr Gareth Jones also committed to not attending meetings, unless to raise concerns from constituents, until these were made public.

Proper Officer and Responsible Finance Officer Cllr Jeremy Paige said the missing finances would be audited in February, before being placed in the public domain.

A Freedom Of Information request for the accounts was also submitted, by Machynlleth resident Steven Bevan, during the summer.

Cllr Paige said while some of the 92 documents requested in the FOI are now available, the council hope to publish the others as soon as possible.

Cllr Paige said: “There is no issue of foul play here but some procedures and good practice have been found to have been overlooked.”

Cllr Gareth Jones “welcomed” the step forward in publishing the accounts.

He added: “Now, at last, our constituents’ concerns are hopefully finally being listened to, but they are not yet answered.

“It shouldn’t have taken anywhere near this long.

“It is now two years since councillors last received those accounts and it will be longer again before we eventually do see them.

“In my opinion the councillors in post in 2020 should consider explaining publicly why this situation to arose in the first place.”