Fraud Response Plans

The request was partially successful.

Dear City of Edinburgh Council,

I am a current PhD student researching fraudulent misconducts involving employees within Scottish local authorities since the introduction of the Bribery Act 2010. My area of interest relates to departments involved in the construction of new buildings, and in the repairs & maintenance of existing properties within your local authority.
I therefore would be most grateful if you would provide me with the following information to the questions listed below.
Many thanks in advance.

SH Bell

1) Does your fraud response plan specifically address the fraud risks that apply to the departments dealing with the construction of new buildings and in the repairs & maintenance of existing properties, or has your council adopted a uniform anti-fraud and corruption policy across all departments of the council? Please would you provide a copy of your policy.

2) Do you have a clear unambiguous policy in relation to conflict of interest and gifts and hospitality, and if so, please would you provide a copy?

3) How many allegations of fraud involving an employee has your authority received in the following periods, and how many were found to be substantiated?

2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018

City of Edinburgh Council

SH Bell

Our ref: 22238

Dear SH Bell

Acknowledgement of Request

Subject: Fraud Response Plans

Thank you for your request for information received on 06/02/2019. I can confirm that your request will be processed under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Environmental Information Regulations (Scotland) 2004, or the INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations 2009.

You will receive the information requested within 20 working days unless the Council does not hold the information, or there is a reason for it to be withheld. We will write to you in any event. This means we have until 06/03/2019 to respond to your request.

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To promote transparency and accountability, please note it is the Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under the freedom of information legislation. This information will be made available through the Council’s website and will not include your personal details. The disclosure log is available at the following link: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/175....

Further information about your rights and accessing information is available on our website at: www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,

Information Governance Unit
Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340
[Edinburgh City Council request email] www.edinburgh.gov.uk

City of Edinburgh Council

SH Bell

[FOI #550528 email]

Our ref: 22238

Dear SH Bell

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Release of Information

Subject: Fraud Response Plans

Thank you for your request for information of 06/02/2019 where you asked the following:

I am a current PhD student researching fraudulent misconducts involving employees within Scottish local authorities since the introduction of the Bribery Act 2010. My area of interest relates to departments involved in the construction of new buildings, and in the repairs & maintenance of existing properties within your local authority.

I therefore would be most grateful if you would provide me with the following information to the questions listed below.

Your request has been processed and considered under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the information is provided below. I apologise for the delay in responding to your request.

1) Does your fraud response plan specifically address the fraud risks that apply to the departments dealing with the construction of new buildings and in the repairs & maintenance of existing properties, or has your council adopted a uniform anti-fraud and corruption policy across all departments of the council? Please would you provide a copy of your policy.

2) Do you have a clear unambiguous policy in relation to conflict of interest and gifts and hospitality, and if so, please would you provide a copy?

Please refer to the Anti-Bribery Policy and the Employee Code of Conduct which can be found in our Policy Register on our website at the following link: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory/14...

Under the terms of the Act, a request for information can be refused where one or more of the exemptions listed in the Act apply. In this instance, the Council is claiming an exemption under section 25 of the Act because the information is ‘otherwise accessible’.

There are no separate procedures for those involved in procurement for building projects – the principles and expectations are covered within the Council’s policy and guidance. We also have a very robust procurement process in place, which sets out in detail the processes and approval routes that need to be followed for procurement exercises of all levels.

3) How many allegations of fraud involving an employee has your authority received for each year 2011 to 2018, and how many were found to be substantiated?

One service area has reported that in 2012, one employee was dismissed.

The following response from Human Resources is:

We would only record this if it was taken through to a disciplinary hearing which resulted in a sanction.

Warnings last for the following time frames:

Written Warning: 9 months
Final Written Warning: 12 months
Final Written Warning with Punitive Action: 18 months

Therefore, we do not hold the information for 2011 to September 2017. Any hearing from during that time would be expunged from the record. Please note that this is a formal notice under section 17 of the Act that this information is not held.

From September 2017 until now we have no recorded cases of Fraud that have moved through to disciplinary action being taken.

To promote transparency and accountability, please note it is the Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under the freedom of information legislation. This information will be made available through the Council’s website and will not include your personal details. The disclosure log is available at the following link: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/175...

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The City of Edinburgh Council
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Edinburgh
EH8 8BG or,
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Kinburn Castle
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St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
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Email: [email address]

Yours sincerely,

Sue Brown
Information Rights Officer

Information Governance Unit
Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340
[Edinburgh City Council request email] www.edinburgh.gov.uk