A report has been released detailing a series of mistakes – amounting to “maladministration” – by Highland Council officials which cost taxpayers £187,000.
The authority was forced to pay the money into the Nairn Common Good Fund (NCGF) after it emerged that officials had failed to carry out a lease review at Lochloy Caravan Park for 15 years.
Highland Council administers the property on behalf of the NCGF and last month agreed to recompense the fund for lost earnings.
Now a report, prepared by the council’s head of audit and risk management Nigel Rose, has been made public detailing the mistakes which led to the repayment.
However, all the names of council officials involved in the bungled operation have been redacted.
The reason for the redactions is because none of the officials have been given the chance to account for their actions – or inactions.
In his report, Mr Rose says that the problems with the rent should been dealt with in 2003, when an unnamed officer identified that a planned seven-yearly review had not taken place in 1999.
However, the rent was ultimately not examined when due in 2006 – Mr Rose said: “In essence, the exercise concerned was not a significant task but nevertheless was prolonged and ineffective.”
The audit director said it was “remarkable” that various officers failed to identify that rent at the caravan park should have risen in 1999 and again in 2003.
A “relatively junior” officer noticed the issue in 2006 – but the issue was dropped after the exercise was passed to more senior figures.
The report lays the blame with “the many failings of officers at various points” and not with councillors.
The report is due to be considered by the council’s audit and scrutiny committee this week.
Summing up his findings, Mr Rose said: “In conclusion, in view of the maladministration at the hands of the various officers involved it is competent to reimburse the Common Good Fund for the actual ‘loss’ incurred, totalling £187,060.”
Nairn councillors have expressed their concern about the situation.
Councillor Liz MacDonald said: “It took a long time and effort to get this sorted.”
Fellow Nairn councillor Michael Green said: “We would have expected a degree of curiosity as to why over a period of 14 years, the prime source of income had not increased.
“Fortunately Nairn Common Good Fund is not missing out.”
He added the council now needs to rebuild confidence to ensure that residents were willing to lease their properties.
And councillor Colin Macaulay, also Nairn, said: “We should all be embarrassed, including the trustees through the years.”