Shock findings of an annual audit revealed that in one case the wording of a recommendation was later changed by an official.
The report, presented to the council’s Governance, Risk and Best Value Committee, highlighted a range of issues including a lack of oversight over the implementation of whistleblowing recommendations, instructions not fully being followed and failure to retain evidence of changes being made.
Auditors concluded the current processes in place are “inadequate and/or not operating effectively”. They said the risks associated with their findings were “lack of clarity and understanding” of the roles and responsibilities of some council officers to act on whistleblowing recommendations, “limited assurance” that management actions resulting from disclosures are “fully implemented” and “inaccurate / incomplete reporting to committee and citizens on whistleblowing disclosures”.
Conservative councillor Phil Doggart said parts of the report “back up my concerns around light touch audits”. He said: “Could an executive director explain to me, given the value we attach to audit, why those processes were inadequate?”
The council’s chief executive Andrew Kerr said: “I’m not sure I can actually answer why they’re inadequate because I don’t think that’s the case consistently across the board.”
Cllr Doggart said the “most serious” inadequacy highlighted by the review was a case in which the wording of a recommendation made following an investigation was “changed by the...
You are reading the second issue of the Disinformation Monitor. It is published on a monthly basis and provides an overview of developments on the disinformation scenes on NATO’s eastern frontier....