Shropshire Council sees increase in whistleblowing reports
Other themes included council tax, non-domestic rates, safeguarding, tenancy fraud, theft or fraud, and planning or building control.Of these reports, 10 resulted in management action, with seven having "no case to answer", while 10 are ongoing and one has been listed as "not-applicable".Speaking at Shropshire Council's audit committee, Councillor Malcolm Myles-Hook asked what was going to change to bring the numbers down next year, and if members had learned the outcome of actions.Executive director James Walton said the council did not report what the management actions were, and they could be from "very minor to quite major"."There is an argument of whether more whistleblowing is good or not," he told the committee."It's about accessibility. If lots of people blow the whistle and no action is taken as a result of it, then there's something wrong. All we can do is report what it is."What we don't want going out is 'if you blow the whistle in some way, you're going to be identified'."
Councillor Duncan Kerr, who was chairing the meeting, said that members needed to have some information about what the outcome was, "otherwise what's the point in having a policy?"He also asked if there could be an investigation into whether a call handling company could be used to handle reports over the phone, and if there could be some clarification to staff about what the policy was. That was approved by members.Meanwhile, Councillor Kerr confirmed that in 2024-25, there were no whistleblowing reports related to the North West Relief Road.
This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.
Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Sun
Crooked civil servants stole £1.7million in benefits meant for pensioners, carers and disability claimants last year
CROOKED civil servants stole £1.7million in benefits meant for pensioners, carers and disability claimants last year. Department for Work and Pensions staff took the cash by fraud, its annual report reveals. There were 25 investigations into employee theft in the 2024-25 tax year, with proven losses of £1,713,809.18. A further 22 investigations into salary and expenses fraud revealed losses of £43,886.76. And the total amount overpaid through either fraud or error was a staggering £9.5billion. The findings will come as a blow to Sir Keir Starmer, who has pledged to clamp down on benefits fraud and reduce the spiralling welfare bill. Dennis Reed, of OAP charity Silver Voices, said: 'This is an outrageous betrayal of public trust.' A DWP spokesman said: 'We take fraud extremely seriously. "When there is evidence of wrongdoing, an employee is subject to disciplinary action and dismissal." Shameless moment crook counts £30k in cash he swindled from vulnerable pensioners 1
The Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Sun
Desperate search for missing schoolgirl, 15, who vanished a week ago as cops urge ‘call 999'
AN URGENT search has been launched for a missing teenager who vanished a week ago. Rosie, 15, was last seen in Taunton, Somerset, at around 4.15pm on July 19. The youngster was wearing a black top, with grey jeans and carried a handbag at the time of her disappearance. She is described as having medium-length dark brown hair, and is of slim build. The teen has links to Mendips, Bridgwater and Taunton. A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "We want to hear from anyone who sees missing Rosie. "She is 15 years old and is known to have links to the Mendips, Bridgwater and Taunton. "If you know where Rosie is please call 999 quoting reference 5225204149, or call 101 with any other information." Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
The Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Sun
BMA's failure to allow treatment during strike is wrecking patients' lives & playing God with their medical conditions
Doctors can't just refuse to do duty THE wait for a cancer diagnosis is one of the most agonising experiences of anyone's life. So a Milton Keynes hospital trust made a plea to the striking BMA union to allow treatment of six patients who had steeled themselves for their biopsies. 1 Shamefully, their response was no. We knew the union's leaders were grasping mercenaries in their pursuit of a fantasy 29 per cent pay claim. Now we know they are capable of inhuman cruelty too. It was only thanks to the heroic decision of one of their own members to break the strike that the patients got the treatment they needed. The BMA's decision was based on the fact there was no direct clinical risk because none of the patients had as yet been diagnosed with cancer. Crystal clear evidence that the union is not only wrecking patients' lives but also playing God with their medical conditions. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, himself a former cancer sufferer, says: 'It is completely unacceptable for the BMA to dismiss the mental anguish a delayed diagnosis can have on people and families.'' Spot on, Wes. Extremist fanatics have no right to dictate whether someone should be tested for cancer or not. And every grotesque BMA decision that harms patients must be ruthlessly exposed. Take Don's advice PM Since his election, Mr Trump has wasted no time in reducing the hordes arriving in the US to a trickle and deporting tens of thousands more. Meanwhile, Sir Keir seems unable to get to grips with the crisis over here. The two leaders will no doubt be discussing vital matters such as Gaza and the UK-US trade deal when they meet tomorrow. But Sir Keir should put learning lessons on migration at the top of the agenda. Help on high streets BUSINESS Secretary Jonny Reynolds has revealed the Government plans to give the nation's struggling high streets a shot in the arm in the autumn budget. Welcome words. We have warned for years that the sector was on its knees. But for many pubs and restaurants, Labour's tax hikes have already proved the final nail in the coffin.
