Auditors called in to look at council contracts

Jamie MacDonald • Published 19 May 2010 10:49 2 Comments

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AUDITORS have been called in to examine Clackmannanshire Council's recent decision to implement a service for the elderly and those with disabilities.

Both external and internal auditors are looking at what has gone on behind the scenes at the local authority over the handling of its Telecare Service and other contracts.

The council's Director of Services, Grahame Blair, was behind the plans to bring in Telecare, passed at a council meeting on 11 March. The report had originally been scheduled to go before councillors on 17 December 2009 but was pulled at the last minute.

It was not mentioned in the report at the time, but it has since emerged, that Mr Blair's wife, Lynn, was employed as a consultant on Telecare's implementation.

With the audit set to take place Mr Blair, who was not directly involved in the selection process, is currently off work "by mutual consent".

On being asked about the nature of Mr Blair's absence and whether the police were looking into the matter, Angela Leitch, Clackmannanshire Council's chief executive, said, "Clackmannanshire Council respects the privacy of its employees and does not comment on individual circumstances, such as sick leave.

"The telecare contract is one of a number which are being reviewed by the Council's external and internal auditors. There is no police involvement in any of these reviews."

Telecare has been lauded for improving the quality of life of citizens requiring additional support and protection. It has been used to delay the need to move into sheltered accommodation and can dramatically reduce the average wait for help after a fall.

At the council meeting where the implementation of the Telecare service was approved, an amendment, proposed by Councillor Craig Holden, was included where final procurement arrangements, costs and a further explanation of savings would still come back to council.

In a letter to the Advertiser earlier this month Councillor Donald Balsillie attacked the council's Labour administration saying, "The SNP consider the Labour run council to be characterised by a lack of transparency and accountability on Governance and Procurement."

At a separate council meeting, held on 22 April, SNP, Lib Dem and Conservative councillors successfully opposed a report on changes to standing orders.

Those against the paper felt it would result in a shortage of checks to ensure council functions were delivered in a transparent manner.

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May 28, 14:59
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Brown Owl
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Jun 2, 05:48
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Why do my comments keep getting removed?

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rab lafferty
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Jun 11, 08:42
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Its nothing new, the councils awash with this type of Hypocracy...Its those same people who are milking the councils dry, not just this Authority but every Authority..Its in the public interest that we see where our Council Tax is being spent and spent wisely, these contrcts should be made public as so there can be transparency and that those contracts are won through fair means and are both good value for money and fit for purpose. The times coming when all those in the offices of public buildings will be scrutinised and lets hope that the governmentsee what we already know is that they are to top heavy and not giving good value for money, lets clear them out and put more front line service personal on the go, thats what makes the difference to the taxpayers and people of the county..

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