Item 8 - Public Interest Disclosures and other Internal Audit Investigations 1 April to 31 October 2025

West Dunbartonshire Council · 10 December 2025
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL
Report by Chief Officer - Resources
Audit Committee - 10 December 2025
Subject: Public Interest Disclosures and other Internal Audit Investigations
1 April to 31 October 2025
1. Purpose
1.1 The purpose of this report is to advise Committee of the outcome of
investigations into allegations and disclosures in line with public interest
disclosure and business irregularities policies received by Internal Audit
between 1 April and 31 October 2025.
2. Recommendations
2.1 It is recommended that Members note the content of this report.
3. Background
3.1 A disclosure in the public interest is where a concern is raised by a Council
employee about a danger or illegality that has a public interest aspect to it.   A
confidential reporting facility is managed by Internal Audit as part of the
Council’s Public Interest Disclosure Policy.  Internal Audit maintains a central
record of all concerns raised under the Public Interest Disclosure Policy.  All
such disclosures are investigated by Internal Audit, including liaising with
Services and HR as appropriate.
3.2 Members of the public can also contact Internal Audit to raise issues of
concern and such matters are investigated as appropriate, although they are
not regarded as public interest disclosures in terms of legislation.
4. Main Issues
Public Interest Disclosure Cases
4.1 There were 5 outstanding cases from the previous report to Audit Committee
on 11 June which require an update to this meeting. 
Ref/
Date Service Area Detail Status
01/0424
14/0924
21/1024
23/1024
27/1224
09.12.24
Roads &
Neighbourhood
Drug misuse by
employees whist
on duty.
Referred to Service –
closed due to lack of
specific information
relating to employees. 
Service is however
currently reviewing the
drug testing policy with
HR.
Item 8

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Ref/
Date Service Area Detail Status
19/1024
23.10.24
Housing Potential breach
of code of
conduct/social
media policy.
Referred to Service –
investigated and
appropriate management
action undertaken.
25/1124
29.11.24
Housing Service Referral -
Potential breach
of working
practices.
Closed - Incorporated
into Audit Plan 2024/25.
30/1224
16.12.24
Housing Misuse of Council
vehicle.
Closed – hire vehicle
used by employee so
unable to investigate.
33/1224
31.12.24
HSCP Allegation of
misuse of
corporate
purchase card.
Closed – misuse
identified and report
issued to management
with recommendations
which have been
actioned by
management.
4.2 There were 16 new disclosures investigated during the period 1 April to 31
October 2025 as follows:
Ref/
Date Service Area Detail Status
03/0425
29.04.25
WD Leisure Trust Allegation of Drug
Misuse
Closed – referred to Police
Scotland.
08/0625
04.06.25
HSCP Complaint about
employee
behaviour.
Closed – referred to
Service and dealt with as a
complaint. 
11/0625
17/0725
24.07.25
Roads and
Neighbourhood
Allegation of
misuse of council
vehicle and not
working
contracted hours.
Ongoing – joint
investigation being carried
out between Audit & Fraud
and HR.
14/0725
15/0725
11.07.25
HSCP Complaint about
employee
behaviour.
Closed – referred to
Service as dealt with as a
complaint.
19/0825
14.08.25
Housing Allegation of
inappropriate
behaviour of
employee
towards
colleagues and
members of the
public.
Ongoing – Service
investigation is being
progressed.

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Ref/
Date Service Area Detail Status
20/0825
26.08.25
Housing Allegation of
misuse of council
vehicle and
fraudulent
overtime claims.
Closed – no misuse or
fraud established. 
22/0825
26.08.25
Roads and
Neighbourhood
Allegation of
fraudulent/
irregular working
practices and
potential health
and safety
breaches.
Ongoing – joint
investigation being
progressed between Audit
& Fraud and HR.
23/0825
26.08.25
Roads and
Neighbourhood
Allegation of
misuse of vehicle
by employee on
non-working day.
Closed – no fraud
established.
24/0825
26.08.25
HSCP Allegation of
inappropriate use
of council vehicle.
Closed – no fraud
established.
26/0825
31.08.25
HSCP Allegation of
employee being
under influence of
drugs whilst at
work.
Closed – no evidence to
substantiate allegation.
27/0925
01.09.25
Roads and
Neighbourhood
Allegation of
employee being
under influence of
alcohol whilst at
work.
Closed – no evidence to
substantiate allegation.
28/1025
03.10.25
Housing Potential misuse
of council vehicle
and theft of
council materials
Referred to service –
investigation ongoing.
29/1025
10.10.25
HSCP Complaint about
employee
behaviour.
Closed – links to previous
referrals.  INV-14/0725
refers.
32/1025
31.10.25
Housing Potential misuse
of Council
vehicle.
Closed – no fraud
detected.

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4.3 Activity relating to public interest disclosure for recent reporting periods is as
follows:
Period No. of Cases
1st January 2019 to 30th June 2019 5
1st July 2019 to 30th June 2020 8
1st July 2020 to 31st December 2020 4
1st January 2021 to 18th August 2021 15
19th August 2021 to 31st January 2022 7
1st February 2022 to 15th July 2022 7
16th July 2022 to 18th January 2023 5
19th January to 18th July 2023 19
19th July 2023 to 24th January 2024 10
27th January to 31st October 2024 18
1st November 2024 to 31st March 2025 11
1st April to 31st October 2025 16
Other investigations (non public interest disclosure cases)
4.4 There were 3 outstanding other referrals investigated by Internal Audit during
the period 1st April to 31st October 2025:
Ref/
Date Service Area Detail Status
36/0125
29.01.25
Roads and
Neighbourhood
Allegation of misuse of
council facilities and
theft of council
resources for personal
gain.
Investigation has been
undertaken by Service. 
No fraud identified but
implementation of
recommendations from
previous investigation
are ongoing.
37/0225
19.02.25
Roads and
Neighbourhood
Allegation of misuse of
council vehicle.
Closed – no misuse
identified.
38/0225
19.02.25
Citizens, Culture
and Facilities
Management
Allegation of theft of
council materials.
Closed – no fraud
detected.

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4.5 There were 12 new referrals investigated during the period 1 April to 31
October 2025 as follows:
Ref/
Date Service Area Detail Status
01/0425
19.04.25
Roads and
Neighbourhood
Allegation of
misuse of council
facilities and poor
working practices.
Ongoing - Linked to
36/0125.  Actions to
implement previous
recommendations are
ongoing.
06/0525
29.05.25
Roads and
Neighbourhood
Allegation that
employee takes
excessive breaks
from work.
Ongoing - Service
investigation complete and
report being prepared for
management.
07/0625
03.06.25
Roads and
Neighbourhood
Allegation that
employees take
backhanders to
remove rubbish.
Closed – insufficient
information provided in the
referral to investigate.
09/0625
05.06.25
Roads and
Neighbourhood
Allegation that
employee takes
excessive breaks
from work.
Closed – insufficient
information provided in the
referral to investigate
however review of Webfleet
did not reveal any evidence
to substantiate the
allegation.
10/0625
12.06.25
Roads and
Neighbourhood
Allegation of
misuse of council
vehicles.
Closed – investigation did
not reveal any evidence to
substantiate allegation.
12/0625
25.06.25
Housing Misuse of council
vehicle.
Closed – investigation
unable to progress as no
tracking information
available for vehicle. 
Vehicle returned to
Transport Services to allow
Webfleet to attend to check
and repair tracking device.
13/0625
28.06.25
Chief Executive Complaint about
Chief Officer
Closed – insufficient
information provided in the
referral to investigate.
16/0725
24.07.25
Housing Allegation that
employee is
running own
business during
working hours.
Ongoing – joint investigation
being progressed between
Audit & Fraud and HR.
18/0825
06.08.25
Housing Complaint about
employee
behaviour.
Closed – referred to Service
to investigate as a
complaint.

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Ref/
Date Service Area Detail Status
21/0825
26.08.25
Housing Allegation that
employee is
stealing council
materials and
dropping off at
home address to
undertake homers.
Ongoing – joint investigation
being progressed between
Audit & Fraud and HR.
25/0825
27.08.25
Regulatory and
Regeneration
Allegation of
potential breach of
annual leave
process.
Closed - Referred to service
as operational matter.
31/1025
26.10.25
Housing Allegation of
misuse of council
facilities.
Closed – investigated by
Service and misuse
identified and relevant
management action taken.
4.6 Activity relating to other investigation referrals for recent reporting periods is
as follows:
Period No. of Cases
1st January 2019 to 30th June 2019 14
1st July 2019 to 30th June 2020 8
1st July 2020 to 31st December 2020 2
1st January 2021 to 18th August 2021 1
19th August 2021 to 31st January 2022 2
1st February 2022 to 15th July 2022 2
16th July 2022 to 18th January 2023 5
19th January to 18th July 2023 0
19th July 2023 to 24th January 2024 10
27th January to 31st October 2024 11
1st November 2024 to 31st March 2025 9
1st April to 31st October 2025 12
4.7 A follow up process is in place to ensure recommendations made have been
implemented.  Outcomes are used to inform internal audit planning for future
years. 
5. People Implications
5.1 There are no personnel implications with this report.
6. Financial and Procurement Implications
6.1 There are neither financial nor procurement implications with this report.

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7. Risk Analysis
7.1 There are risks to the Council in financial, legal, operational and
reputational terms of not providing a service to enable a disclosure in the
public interest and to ensure that all public interest disclosure and other
concerns raised with Internal Audit are properly investigated.
8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA)
8.1 There is no requirement to undertake an equality impact screening.
9. Consultation
9.1 This report has been subject to consultation with appropriate Chief Officers. 
10. Strategic Assessment
10.1 The Public Interest Disclosure Policy and Business Irregularity Procedures
contribute to the Council's strategic priorities by ensuring that early warnings
of malpractice may mitigate the extent of financial losses to the Council,
contribute to better asset management by utilising employees to manage risks
to the organisation's reputation and support fit for purpose services through
the continuation and promotion of robust employment practice.
....................................
Laurence Slavin
Chief Officer - Resources
Date:  6 November 2025
Person to Contact: Andi Priestman, Shared Service Manager – Audit &
Fraud
Email:  andi.priestman@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Appendix: None
Background Papers: Public Interest Disclosure Policy; Business Irregularity
Procedures
Wards Affected: All

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