The way gifts and hospitality were given out by a council has been slammed in a report which says a high number of cases were not reported.
An audit report into Perth and Kinross Council also said there was a lack of checks on the information submitted by some local authority services and the aim of public reporting was “not being met.”
The council introduced gifts and hospitality policies and procedures in 2011 which require staff to declare offers received of gifts and/or hospitality worth £25 or more to a senior manager, who will then decide on acceptance or rejection.
A council officer nominated by an executive director should maintain a register, recording all offers in each service. Register entries are published on the council’s website, although these were found to be more than a year old.
The audit examined the records of all gifts and hospitality offered to council staff in the first quarter of 2012/13 though did not look at the corresponding arrangements for councillors.
Its findings were critical of the council and in particular, their environment department.
Auditors found five offers of gifts/hospitality to environment staff were published on the council’s website in 2011/12, yet the department approved a further 11 cases in this period.
In addition, the auditors found eight cases had been approved by staff below service manager level.
The audit report says there have been no council-wide reminders of the gifts and hospitality procedures since April 2011 and service communications to staff have been limited.
It also says “there is scope” to improve the corporate rules and procedures relating to gifts and hospitality.
In the report, Jacqueline Clark, chief internal auditor, said: “One service failed to report a high number of cases in 2011/12.
“Another informed the internal audit an offer was not disclosed on the public register due to a technical issue with a database.
“The audit found a lack of routine corporate-level checks on the information submitted by council services and destined for the public domain.
“The aim of the quarter-end public reporting is not being met, with the most recent records on the council’s website being more than a year old.”
She continued: “There are inconsistencies in the information provided in the council’s three corporate documents. It is possible for an employee to adhere to one set of rules but breach another.”
The council is set to amend the employee code of conduct and their financial regulations will be revised during the next planned review.