Whistleblowing at West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) has been described as “relatively small” for an organisation of its size with just 15 complaints made over a 12 month period.
One allegation made in December last year was that staff from a nursery attended a Christmas party night and mixed with other employees but did not follow Covid-19 guidance. Employees then tested positive and other staff were isolating awaiting test results.
An investigation revealed that the allegations were unfounded as no Covid-19 regulations or guidance were breached by employees on the night out.
Members of the local authority’s audit committee were presented with a report advising them of the outcomes of investigations into allegations and disclosures at council premises in line with public interest between January 2021 and January 2022.
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 process is managed by internal audit as part of the WDC Public Interest Disclosure Policy.
An update was presented to the audit committee on Wednesday.
Labour councillor Martin Rooney said: “This is actually a relatively small amount of complaints for an organisation of our size. It is right that we get them and investigate them.”
SNP councillor Karen Conaghan added: “It is a very low number of complaints reported for an organisation of this size and a very low number go on to be complaints that need to be answered.”
Questions were then asked about why workplace disclosures are particularly low and whether or not staff were confident in the process.
Chris Johnston, a voluntary member of the committee, said: “Councillor Rooney has said that workplace disclosures are particularly low.
“I believe there are two reasons why there are very few disclosures made. One there is not any underlying issue or two there is not enough confidence to whistleblow.
“Is there any view in that process through staff surveys?”
Chief executive Joyce White said she had no concerns about the procedures in place for people to raise concerns.
Ms White said: “I have no concerns that we don’t have an open, transparent culture within this organisation and certainly through the procedures and processes in place, employees are always encouraged to raise issues with their line managers.
“There is nothing I would be concerned about at the moment.”
