Audit makes recommendations to improve collection of rental income

An audit report to Audit and Scrutiny Committee today, 24 November 2016, has made recommendations to improve the collection of rental income.

Audit findings estimated that up to £10,000 rental income could potentially have been lost, however this is against a context of total rental income in excess of £3 million per annum. Disparate and complex systems and staff leaving were identified as contributory factors.

Three recommendations were made which include a more corporate approach to rental income with stronger control systems.  A detailed action plan will be brought back to Audit and Scrutiny Committee for consideration in March 2017.

Chair of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Richard Laird said: “I am concerned that the audit report has revealed weaknesses in the council’s systems for collecting rental income. I think this also highlights the risks around staff capacity and handover of responsibilities when they leave the organisation. I have sought assurances however, that significant changes and improvements will be urgently made to the systems, with a more corporate approach being taken.”