AFTER six months of silence Sandwell Council is set to reveal the results of internal investigations into allegations of fraud and misconduct.

Sandwell Council will update its Audit Committee on investigations into allegations of fraud and misconduct at a meeting next Thursday (January 26).

Jan Britton, chief executive of Sandwell Council, said: "The council treats all allegations of wrongdoing or impropriety with the utmost seriousness.

"For that reason, we have carried out extensive investigations into a number of issues relating to land sales, housing allocations and other matters that have been brought to our attention."

He added: "We are pleased to be bringing a report detailing the outcome of reviews into these allegations to the upcoming meeting of the Council's Audit Committee.

"Several of the allegations date back many years and have come to light following more recent investigations.

"The report concludes that some of the issues require further action while others make recommendations to improve the council's procedures.

"We have worked extensively to get to the bottom of any alleged wrongdoing as promptly as possible and it's important to the leader and me, to the cabinet and to the council as a whole that we take action where necessary and move on from this."

The report to the Audit Committee will be available via the council's website by the end of tomorrow (Wednesday).

Last month the News revealed explosive new allegations of dodgy land deals, rigged sealed bids and corrupt council house allocations were being investigated at Sandwell Council.

The latest investigations were sparked after internal interviews following the publication of the Wragge Report in May which detailed wrongdoing by former deputy leader Oldbury Councillor Mahboob Hussain.

The Wragge Report by solicitors Wragge, Lawrence, Graham and Co was commissioned by Sandwell Council in October 2014 after the police began investigating allegations concerning council land, including former toilets and the former Smethwick coroner's court being sold to Cllr Hussain's family members and associates.

The police found Cllr Hussain had no case to answer after an 18 month fraud investigation.

Cllr Hussain denies any wrongdoing.