PKC staff sent to Test and Protect

Perth and Kinross Council auditors were among staff redeployed to help deliver NHS Test and Protect services.

PKC’s audit team was temporarily halved as officers left to help with the pandemic.

Having just returned to their normal roles, NHS Tayside is now interviewing other council staff to support Test and Protect over the longer term.

Many PKC employees were retasked during lockdown. Most have returned to substantive rolls but 11 members of staff are still redeployed.

The council says this number fluctuates depending on need.

A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson told the PA:“Many of our staff were retasked during lockdown to ensure essential services could continue and to support the health, wellbeing and safety of our residents and we remain enormously grateful for their efforts this year.

“Although most have now returned to their substantive roles within the council, 11 are still carrying out retasked duties although the situation can change depending on need.

“Like all local authorities, Perth and Kinross Council was asked to provide staff to support Test and Protect.

“Three members of staff, including two of our four auditors, provided this support while we sought expressions of interest from staff who are interested in carrying out Test and Protect duties on a year-long secondment.

“The auditors have now all returned to their normal roles and NHS Tayside is interviewing candidates from Perth and Kinross Council who wish to support Test and Protect over the longer term.”

At a council audit committee meeting on Wednesday, December 2, councillors thanked PKC’s chief auditor Jackie Clark and her team.

Conservative councillor Roz McCall - deputising for Cllr Coates - praised them for still managing to“keep on top of the audit function”, for producing reports and bringing information to councillors despite the workforce being“drastically” reduced.

Their team was halved from four to two.

Cllr McCall said:“I just wanted to pass on my thanks to Jackie and the team.

“This has been an extraordinary year. This is going to be the last audit committee of 2020 which - let’s be honest - has been one of the worst years on record.”

Convener SNP councillor Eric Drysdale echoed the thanks and said it was unanimous across the committee.

He added:“Please God in 2021 things can get back to the‘new normal’-whatever that will be. Thank you for you and your team’s efforts throughout 2020.”