THE former Conservative leader of Lancashire County Council will finally appear in court in October following a nine-year investigation.

Burnley-born and Rossendale-raised Geoff Driver is one of four men charged following the conclusion of Operation Sheridan which started in 2013,

The probe was launched after allegations of financial irregularity made to the police by Lancashire County Council.

It followed concerns being raised over the awarding of a £5m fleet maintenance contract to the now defunct One Connect joint venture between Lancashire County Council and BT.

As well as Mr Driver who retired in May 2021, former Lancashire County Council chief executives Ged Fitzgerald and Phil Halsall and former One Connect chief executive David McElhinney are due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday October 12.

Operation Sheridan has cost more than £3million.

A Lancashire Police statement said: "Four men are due to appear in court after they were summonsed to appear in connection with Lancashire Constabulary’s Operation Sheridan.

"Operation Sheridan was launched in 2013 following allegations of financial irregularity made to the constabulary by Lancashire County Council.

"On completion of the investigation - during which we worked closely with Merseyside Police, Lancashire County Council and Liverpool City Council - we referred the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service who have authorised charges for four individuals.

"They are:

"* Dr David McElhinney, 62 of Ormskirk Road, Knowsley, who has been summonsed to face charges of misconduct in public office and procuring misconduct in public office;

"* Philip Halsall, 64 of Hesketh Road, Southport who has been summonsed to face charges of misconduct in public office and procuring misconduct in public office;

"*Gerald Fitzgerald, 60 of Dover Road, Birkdale, who has been summonsed to face charges of misconduct in public office and aiding and abetting misconduct in public office: amd

"* Geoff Driver, 77 of Hoylake Close, Preston, who has been summonsed to face a charge of Taking Revenge under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.

"All four men have been served with postal requisition orders this week and are due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, October 12 2022.

"Four other men aged 62, 64, 66 and 68 were written to earlier this year and told they would face no further action."

A Lancashire County Council spokeswoman said: "We note police have announced that three former senior members of staff and the former leader of the council have been summonsed to appear in court as part of an ongoing police investigation into historical alleged incidents of misconduct involving Lancashire County Council and other organisations.

"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."