Council members criticise ‘sloppy’ mistakes
Councillors have blasted“sloppy” finance procedures at four community campuses in Perth and Kinross.
Thirteen action points have been raised for Breadalbane (Aberfeldy), Strathearn (Crieff ), Loch Leven (Kinross) and North Inch (Perth) community campuses following an internal audit.
PKC has a 30-year contract with Live Active Leisure to provide sports and leisure services at its investment in learning community campuses with the agreement PKC provides reception staff and cash handling facilities.
The financial procedures, which were the subject of an internal audit, were discussed on Wednesday, November 20 at a meeting of the audit committee.
Vice convener SNP councillor Stewart Donaldson said:“It’s very much, it seems to me, about controls, processes, training and I have to say, it does strike me as being very much about sloppy procedures and over a period of time.”
PKC’s chief internal auditor Jackie Clark said procedures with regards to PKC collecting income on behalf of Live Active Leisure and reimbursing that income back to them“should have been in place.”
She said education and children services was aware of some of the issues that have arisen because of the internal audit.
Speaking at the committee, she said: “My team didn’t observe anything that would give us concern that anything untoward was happening. Nothing was observed that would lead us to that direction. However, the controls were not in place for us to be able to provide the committee with the appropriate assurance.”
Jim Cockburn, finance governance manager for education and children’s services, told the committee a working group had been set up which was going to take forward a lot of the actions that are in the report.
He said:“In a way, this report has helped bring together and galvanise the team to look at these issues and take them forward at this stage.
Greg Boland, senior business and resources manager, said:“We are all very disappointed in this audit.”
Cllr Eric Drysdale asked if the removal of the campus supervisor role in 2017 was one of the catalysts.
Mr Boland said:“I think it’s part of it but not fundamental.”He pointed to a turnover in staff and said the training “has probably not been adequate.”
It emerged staff were not aware of a procedures handbook.
Cllr Sheila McCole said:“It’s alarming that such a significant procedures handbook was not easily found. It’s not just there to fill a space on a shelf or tick a box.”
Mr Cockburn told the committee the action points outlined in the report would be a“number one priority.”
Jackie Clark agreed to give a verbal update to the committee in February ahead of a full update in April.