KEIGHLEY’S mayor has rejected calls to stand down despite West Yorkshire Police this week announcing it will look into whether criminal offences have been committed by the town council.

The force responded to Keighley MP Kris Hopkins, who called for police intervention after auditors PKF Littlejohn highlighted serious failings in the way the town council has handled public money.

Mr Hopkins said: “I’m pleased the temporary chief constable has confirmed police will be taking an active interest in the financial affairs of Keighley Town Council. It’s very important this investigation is fair and allowed to run its course.”

A letter sent to Mr Hopkins states the force’s Economic Crime Unit will meet with PKF Littlejohn to determine whether there are grounds for a police investigation.

In response, Keighley Mayor, Councillor Graham Mitchell, said: “The council will of course co-operate fully with any investigation. But if there had been any evidence of criminality in the auditors’ report, one would have expected PKF Littlejohn to have contacted the relevant authorities some time ago.”

The police reaction comes in the same week a campaigner has launched an online petition calling for town councillors to resign.

Ingrow resident, Elizabeth Mitchell, said she and more than 100 other signatories are calling for the resignation of councillors who served on the management and staffing committee between June 2012 and March 2013.

“The town no longer has confidence in their ability to serve in its best interests,” she added.

“In the auditors’ decisions and statement of reasons document, it clearly shows, in the opinion of the auditors, the expenditure incurred by the then management and staffing committee may be contrary to law.”

Mrs Mitchell has been backed by Keighley town councillor Ron Beale. He said: “As a full gesture of apology, the Keighley mayoral chains of office should now be surrendered to Cliffe Castle Museum to honour those who served on the old Keighley Borough with dedication and dignity.

“This is not the first time the chain of office has been tarnished by this town council, but it should be the last. Is it not time also to abolish the costly office of mayor, which carries little clout?”

But Coun Mitchell said: “The ballot box is judge, jury and executioner. A councillor is only in the position he or she is in because a majority of people in their ward put them there.

“There’s a lot of rushing of blood to the head going on at the moment. I’m not going to consider resigning.”

The council will hold an extraordinary meeting in Keighley Town Hall at 6.30pm on December 2 to respond to the auditors’ findings.