A scandal-hit council department faced 15 whistleblowing complaints in a single year, amid a major fraud investigation.
A corporate fraud probe into Dundee City Council’s construction services is ongoing and a new report has revealed more than half of all whistleblowing allegations made within the local authority in the last year were against the department.
Three senior employees have either been sacked or voluntarily left their roles since an investigation began last year. Allegations have also been made against a number of other staff members.
A report prepared for Wednesday’s scrutiny committee reveals the authority’s corporate fraud team (CFT) is continuing to investigate several cases. It is understood a police investigation is also ongoing.
The report by Gregory Colgan, director of corporate services, said the CFT’s main activity in the last year has been investigating “allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption”.
It added: “Other CFT investigations during 2019/20 involving employees included allegations of improper conduct with contractors, missing cash and goods, misuse of council vehicles and tools, receiving undeclared hospitality, procurement card misuse, council tax reduction and discounts, blue badge misuse, misuse of flexi and annual leave system and breach of council policies.
“Following conclusion of these investigations, recommendations for improvements to internal controls to reduce the risk of similar incidents happening in the future are passed to human resources and the employee’s head of service.”
Individuals investigated in the probe linked to construction services include former employee Kenny Muir, who was sacked in January following an investigation into a lucrative public contract to provide heat and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in local authority-owned homes.
It is understood Mr Muir was brought in for questioning after investigators widened the scope of their inquiries to include a vehicle used in his role but the specific reasons for his dismissal were never confirmed by the council.
A series of investigations by The Courier established the deal was subcontracted to Edmundson Electrical by the construction services department, without ever being put out to tender.
The former head of the department, Mark Ross, stepped down from his role in the midst of a probe into his attendance on a golf trip to the Spanish coast arranged by Edmundson bosses. Mr Ross told staff his departure was due to ill health.
The Courier established Mr Muir also attended the “customer event” in May last year, weeks after the firm began supplying heat and smoke alarms to the authority. Both Mr Muir and Mr Ross claim they paid their own way for the trip and that they were not involved in negotiating the supply contract.
The scrutiny report shows 24 whistleblowing allegations were made in relation to the council in the last financial year. Fifteen related to construction services, although the report noted some allegations were similar.
Internal controls have been improved to reduce fraudulent activity, according to the report.
It said: “Fraud and corruption are ever present risks in all organisations and can have a negative impact through disruption to services or undermining the achievement of objectives.
“The council acknowledges its responsibility for ensuring that fraud and corruption risks are mitigated / managed effectively.
“All allegations of fraud and corruption are investigated by CFT staff, in in partnership with other council colleagues and external agencies where appropriate.”
