Ex-Lancashire Council Council leader Geoff Driver trial date set for 2025; Three men accused in the same investigation will also stand trial next year.

Byline: By, Jamie Lopez

A former leader of Lancashire County Council LCC will stand trial in May 2025.

Geoff Driver is among four men accused in relation to allegations of financial irregularity made to the constabulary by Lancashire County Council. Operation Sheridan was launched by the force in 2013, with the long running investigation involving work with Merseyside Police, Liverpool City Council and LCC.

The matter relates to alleged into alleged financial impropriety at the One Connect joint venture between BT and the county council. Last year, four men including former council leader Geoff Driver, chief executives of each council, and a chief executive at One Direct were charged as a result of the investigation.

The latter, David McElhinney, 63 of Ormskirk Road, Knowsley, was charged with misconduct in public office and procuring misconduct in public office. Phil Halsall, 65, of Hesketh Road, Southport, was charged with misconduct in public office and procuring misconduct in public office.

Ged Fitzgerald, 61 of Dover Road, Birkdale, was charged with misconduct in public office and aiding and abetting misconduct in public office. Driver, 78 of Hoylake Close, Preston, was charged with Taking Revenge under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.

A first hearing was scheduled for October last year but the matter still remains a long way from resolution, with two crown court trials set to take place. A first trial is due to take place involving McElhinney, Halsall and Fitzgerald in September 2024. After that, another trial will take place in May 2025 involving the same three defendants and Driver. The trials will be heard at Manchester Crown Court.

Operation Sheridan was launched after concerns were raised over the awarding of a £5m fleet maintenance contract to the now defunct One Connect joint venture between Lancashire County Council and BT during Driver's first stint in charge at the authority. He headed two Conservative administrations at County Hall between 2009 and 2013 and from 2017 until 2021 when he retired from frontline politics.

After the men were charged, an LCC spokesperson said: "We have, of course, been cooperating fully with the police throughout the investigation, which relates to allegations from many years ago. None of those summonsed still work for Lancashire County Council. Lancashire County Council is focussed on our future, not the past, and our priority continues to be providing the vital, everyday services that the people of Lancashire rely on. As this is now in the hands of the courts we cannot make any further comment at this stage."

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Geoff Driver, former leader of Lancashire County Council