A council worker in Carmarthenshire was caught using council equipment for private jobs during work hours. The employee was discovered using grass-cutting machinery meant for council use to carry out personal work while on duty. This incident, which occurred during 2023-24, was highlighted in an audit and governance committee report. Additionally, another employee was found to have gained unauthorized access to the council’s leisure booking system, providing free entry to friends and acquaintances. Following a referral from the council, Dyfed-Powys Police investigated the matter and issued the individual with a community resolution for lower-level offenses. Both employees no longer work for the authority.
The Carmarthenshire Council, with over 8,000 staff members, rarely encounters such incidents. The audit and governance committee delved deeper into the council’s teams combating fraud and corruption, particularly the consumer and business affairs service. This service, responsible for Trading Standards investigations, successfully led to 15 convictions in 2023-24, preventing an estimated £14.3 million in losses. Comparatively, the previous year saw 12 convictions and £11 million safeguarded. Committee members praised the success of Trading Standards in safeguarding the community and acknowledged the importance of highlighting positive news amidst more negative reports.
Throughout 2023-24, the consumer and business affairs service received 1,830 referrals, including busting a large-scale counterfeit cigarette operation where nearly 100,000 illegal cigarettes were confiscated. Similarly, cases of a resident falsely claiming council tax discounts and a company submitting false quotations for projects were also addressed. The council’s “zero-tolerance” approach to fraud and corruption was evident in the report, emphasizing the importance of maintaining integrity within the organization.
Caroline Powell, the council’s principal auditor, discussed the lessons learned from unauthorized system access incidents, indicating that additional controls had been implemented. Specifically, closer collaboration with the leisure service teams was noted to prevent such occurrences in the future. The council’s commitment to combating fraud and corruption was underscored by the five-month duration to replace and train a new fraud investigation officer. The report outlined the dedication of the counter-fraud team, consisting of two employees, in ensuring transparency and accountability within the council.