An investigation into complaints regarding Handforth Parish Council has cost more than £85,000.

A video of the meeting where Jackie Weaver was told 'you have no authority here' went viral in February 2021.

But a report due to go before Cheshire East Council's audit and governance committee on tomorrow (March 10) reveals there had been made numerous complaints made about some Handforth parish councillors by other Handforth parish councillors and then counter allegations in the run-up to that infamous Zoom meeting in December 2020.

In fact, between 2018 and November 2020, 21 formal complaints were made in relation to councillor conduct.

No formal findings have been made against any councillor in relation to any of the complaints.

The report to Thursday's meeting states: "The number of complaints rose significantly after media attention in 2020/21."

With regard to complaints made within the parish council, the report to the audit and governance committee states: "Handforth Parish Council appears historically to have councillors with very different views on how the parish council should be run."

Cheshire East's monitoring officer decided that 'because of the complexity and nature of the allegations' they should be referred to an external investigator.

The monitoring officer also received a large number of complaints in relation to two virtual meetings which took place on December 10, 2020, via Zoom.

According to the report, the majority of complaints from members of the public arose much later after an edited version of the meeting was publicised in social media.

Both meetings were facilitated by the Cheshire Association of Local Councils in the absence of the permanent parish council clerk.

These complaints were also investigated by an external investigator.

The subsequent investigation summaries were due to go before a sub-committee of Cheshire East councillors for consideration but, says the report due to go before Thursday's meeting, 'due to the resignations of the subject councillors prior to the sub-committee hearing none of the reports have been considered by the audit and governance sub-committee and no formal findings made against any councillor'.

The officer report states: "This investigation has cost £85,716.

"Although the process is undoubtedly fair, it is arguable it is not proportionate in respect of cost against potential sanction."

It adds Cheshire East Council is statutorily obliged to undertake this role for town and parish councils.

And it says there was a delay because of numerous letters and emails of complaint challenging the council, its officers and the investigation process.

The internal costs, in relation to Cheshire East officer time, was also estimated to be about £10,000.

The matter will be considered at Thursday's meeting of Cheshire East Council's audit and governance committee, which takes place at Crewe Municipal Buildings at 10.30am on Thursday, March 10.