THE body responsible for preventing flooding on the Gwent Levels "forgot" it was there to serve the public, a damning report has concluded.

An investigation into years of mismanagement at the Caldicot and Wentlooge Internal Drainage Board found it had not acted lawfully in some key areas.

A fingertip search of the organisation's operations and culture by the Wales Audit Office resulted in a highly critical 68-page report that was published on Monday.

Auditor Anthony Bennet said: "In my view the organisation lost sight of the fact that it was a public body.

"It failed to remember that it did not exist for its own sake but to serve those who work and live on the Gwent Levels.

Mr Bennett acknowledges there are new officers and members in place and significant changes have been made to the way the board operates.

He found the board operated in an "ad hoc and inconsistent way", acted unlawfully on a number of occasions and was beset by personal conflicts, and allowed individuals' interests to influence decision-making.

But he also emphasised as "important context" that members of the board gave a considerable amount of time to provide public service on a voluntary basis.

The report is particularly scathing about the role of the board's chief officer, Clerk and Engineer Mr Dean Jackson -Johns.

The report suggests the board should consider trying recover salary over-payments made to him.

Mr Bennett found that "inspection" trips to Italy, the Netherlands and Northern Ireland were unlawful.

He also criticised the board for allowing a company to pay for another trip to Italy and then spending thousands of pounds with the firm.

•Read the full story in this week's Chepstow & Caldicot News.