BARNSLEY Council has dealt with a number of whistleblowing complaints made to them over the past year - and the majority relate to management behaviour and practices.
The council has had a corporate whistleblowing policy since 2000 which has been reviewed regularly to ensure it is ‘fit for purpose’.
It has recently been changed to the confidential reporting policy.
Over the last 12 months, the council received two complaints using the whistleblowing service, while dealing with a further three that had been carried forward from the previous year.
Of those five, one was made anonymously and the other four were brought forward by named individuals.
Four cases have now closed - all of which requiring no further action through the policy - and an additional case, which related to third party performance management, is currently being investigated.
It’s a drop from seven cases reported to the local authority the year before.
A report, which will be discussed by councillors on Wednesday, states: “Although there have only been two new instances and three carried forward cases where the specific confidential reporting arrangements have been used, there have been other matters raised directly with senior management, both anonymously and with names provided.
“In these cases, advice is sought from the corporate assurance team, or one of the corporate whistleblowing officers.
“In all cases the circumstances of the matter are considered to identify any opportunities for learning and particularly in the improvement of controls.
“As has been highlighted in previous reports, whilst this level of activity in utilising the formal confidential reporting process may be regarded as relatively low in this particular period, it is difficult to speculate what would be an appropriate figure.
“There are several ways to judge the volume of referrals through this process.
“More positively, a low number could indicate on the one hand there are only a few instances of irregularity or concern that are being identified, or less positively, that the process for reporting is not trusted.
“A higher number of referrals could indicate a greater level of trust with the process but less positively, an indication that there are more instances of irregularity occurring.”
Bosses admit that due to the cost-of-living crisis, employees may undertake some ‘wrongdoing’.
The report added: “Although unpleasant to consider, there is a recognised increased risk to all organisations that when the general economic situation worsens and individuals are put under personal financial pressure, there can be a temptation for employees, and those external to organisations to undertake some kind of wrongdoing.
“As we know and appreciate, the vast majority of employees in the council are honest and trustworthy and won’t tolerate others depriving the council of its scarce resources.
“The council is committed to having a robust and effective process to facilitate the raising of concerns as a key part of our armoury to protect its assets and resources.”
