Newham Council has called an ‘extraordinary meeting’ to look into allegations of fraud concerning the local authority’s repairs and maintenance service (RMS).

The local borough began investigating allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement in the RMS in December after a whistleblower drew attention to the problem.

The local authority has, to date, found an £8.7m overspend.

Nine councillors have written to the Metropolitan Police asking that it launch a criminal investigation.

Newham Council has called an open meeting to be held on 22 January to ‘set the record straight for the people of Newham’, a spokesperson has confirmed.

The meeting will also note the ‘firm progress’ made by the current administration in dealing with this ‘and other similar matters that have become known’.