POLICE investigating a £5.5m Commonwealth Games legacy project are examining claims that cheques written out by the charity were used to withdraw up to £10,000 in cash.

The Sunday Herald understands the People’s Development Trust (PDT), the charity behind a community hub in Dalmarnock, complained to the single force after alleged irregularities were found on several cheque stubs.

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The Hub, which brings together a suite of health and childcare services in a new facility in the east end of Glasgow, was opened last year by dignitaries including Kenny Dalglish and city council leader Frank McAveety.

The project was overseen by the PDT and funded by £3m from the Scottish Government, £1.23m from Clyde Gateway and £1.3m from the Big Lottery Fund. The council also provided land for the Hub at a peppercorn rate of £1.

Yvonne Kucuk, a Labour councillor for the local Calton ward, was given the £35,000 a year job of “regeneration manager” and was the scheme’s driving force.

However, the project was marred by splits and a number of board members quit last year.

One of those who left, Reverend Alison Davidge, alerted the BLF to the departures and the lottery body ordered an external auditor to look at whether its grant had been spent appropriately.

The PDT then uncovered concerns about £10,000 of transactions by the charity and a complaint was made to the police. As revealed last week, Kucuk resigned her post recently on the grounds of “ill health”.

It is understood the PDT police complaint was triggered by payments relating to the charity’s official cheque book.

One of the cheque stubs is believed to reveal a £3,500 payment to a local group, but the actual cheque showed a cash withdrawal for the same sum.

Similarly, around half a dozen other cheque stubs – each believed to be for nearly £500 – mentioned a named individual, but enquiries are said to have established the cheques again were for cash withdrawals.

One insider close to the project said the irregularities were evidence of a “chaotic” financial set up.

It is understood some of the alleged discrepancies were uncovered by new PDT management brought in before Christmas.

Separately, an audit carried out by Glasgow City Council into PDT governance recommended various improvements should be carried out.

The report, issued in February to Kucuk, followed an anonymous whistleblowing complaint to the local authority about the project.

Council officials recommended that a budget should be compiled for the PDT and approved by the board. They also called for financial reports to be included in the papers presented to each board meeting.

It added: “Where possible payments should not be made by individuals and then reimbursed to personal bank accounts.

“Where this cannot be avoided approval for the payment must be authorised by a senior member of staff (other than the person incurring the expenditure) or the board prior to the expenditure being incurred.”

The audit also stated: “The board should decide on expenditure authorisation limits (i.e. level which can be authorised by Managers, Chief Executive and the level which should be approved by the board). All expenditure over the agreed limit should then be approved by the board prior to the expenditure being incurred.”

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Local SNP MP John Mason said: “There has been suspicion in Glasgow about a lot of these kinds of projects. Sadly, I think local people will see the Hub as another example of who-you-know, rather than what-you-know. I fear people will see it as another example of a situation that has gone on for years.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Enquiries are ongoing.”

Kucuk did not respond to emails. The PDT did not provide a comment.