Council’s new measures over security contracts

Derry City and Strabane District Council has implemented a raft of new measures aimed at removing the potential for any fraud in how it awards security contract.

It comes after an external review described the processes used by the former Derry City Council awarded security contracts as ‘shambolic’.

The review was carried out at the behest of the current council chief executive John Kelpie (pictured) after two complaints were made to the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) over how security and stewarding contracts were awarded by the old Derry City Council.

The review was carried out by On Board Training and Consultancy Ltd, who presented its findings to the council last month.

The review found while there was no evidence of fraud in the process, there were situations which its authors said were ‘conducive’ to fraud occurring.

The review has aid out 37 recommendations to be implemented by council, to reduce the risk of fraud.

An update on the matter was given at a meeting of council’s Assurance, Audit and Risk Committee.

A council officer told the meeting 19 of the recommendations had been ‘fully Implemented’, 15 ‘partially Implemented’ and three ‘not Implemented’ as of yet.

The officer tolf the council had also adopted a ‘more centralised approach’ to its procurement process, adding the council was ‘satisfied’ that good progress had been made to date on the implementation of the recommendations.

Commenting, the independent councillor Paul Gallagher said he welcomed the implementation of the recommendations.

He added: “There were some calls that this review wasn’t required, but we see now that it was.”

Independent councillor Gary Donnelly said it was a ‘step in the right direction’ while independent councillor Darren O’Reilly also welcomed the update on the implementation of the recommendations.