A COMPANY director has accused Keighley Town Council of failing to pay invoices and breaking local government rules by not posting minutes of meetings on its website.

Internet company director Mike Henson posted an open letter to the council on its own website which his company has helped to maintain.

Mr Henson outlined several complaints about the authority in a letter to the Mayor, Javaid Akhtar, and fellow councillors.

He said it was the first time in his company's 27-year history that it had been necessary to make such an open complaint.

In his letter, Mr Henson, of web design and hosting company mh-p internet Limited, said: "We would like to apologise to residents of Keighley for the missing agendas and minutes that should appear on the Meetings page. These documents have not been provided by the Council.

"By law the minutes of meetings should be posted on the website within 30 days of the meeting."

Mr Henson said accounting documents had also not been provided by the council and so could not be placed on the website.

"By law these documents should be posted on the website by July 1 each year together with a list of items of expenditure above £500."

His letter claims that the council does not appear to have a data protection policy nor a data security policy, adding: "Many council policies have not been revisited/revised for some years."

His letter goes on to complain that invoices dating back to February have not been paid.

It concludes: "Under the circumstances and as already advised to the Officers (of the council), we will not be updating any non-legislative elements of the website and have withdrawn access to the News System, until our outstanding invoices are cleared and the Council takes the necessary steps to place our relationship on a mutually respectful footing."

In a statement, the town council apologised for "problems encountered on the website".

It said: "Individuals, on behalf of the Council, have acted outside of their remit in placing the Council into a liability with the purchase and maintenance updating contract that was not agreed by the Council."

The statement said the council had decided, on June 30, to end all links with the internet firm and to settle a final VAT bill for £67.

It said the finance and audit committee has now "engaged another website provider who is currently building the council's website.

"We anticipate the website should be up and running in the next couple of weeks.

"mh-p Ltd will be notified of the Council's decision to terminate all links with them.

"The lack of professionalism, difficulties and attitude shown by this company to the Council and officers has led to the unfortunate breakdown.

"To comply with the legislative requirements, there is a Council notice board outside the Civic Centre and bus station with meeting dates, notifications etc."