AN OFFICIAL complaint has been made to the district auditor about aspects of Richmondshire District Council's finance and administration practices relating to Croft circuit.

Mr Bernard Borman submitted a six-page report and asked that his allegations against two senior officers be referred to the police.

His main claim centres on payment of a sum of money - believed to be £40,000 - to the operators of Croft motor racing circuit. The cash was to cover the company's costs in fighting a council noise abatement enforcement notice.

Mr Borman, of Leyburn, said the decision to pay, taken by the resources urgency sub-committee which excluded the press and public, should have been made in public and the amount disclosed.

Mr Harry Tabiner, council chief executive, said the authority was obliged to pay Croft circuit's legal costs because the council dropped its case after taking legal advice.

He said the council and the circuit operators reached a confidentiality agreement not to disclose the sum involved and the matter was dealt with as an "exempt" item by the committee.

He denied any wrongdoing and said the authority would co-operate fully if the district decided to investigate.

Health chief

honoured

A DARLINGTON woman has been awarded the CBE for her services to the National Health Service.

Mrs Sue Page, who is married with two children, is the chief executive of the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust. She was appointed in 1998 following the merger of four organisations.

She joined the health service as a graduate trainee in 1980 and worked in Wales before moving to London, where she held various senior management positions.

She was appointed chief executive of North Tyneside Healthcare NHS Trust prior to her present appointment.

l Honours round-up: page 15