Credit card 'update' is two years late!

EXCLUSIVE by DOUGLAS SHEPHERD

The corporate credit card transactions by service directors at Scottish Borders Council during 2016 and 2017 have finally been made public disclosing items purchased on cards over the two years ranged from a £12.99 book on etiquette to air fares, rail tickets, accommodation and meals at numerous conferences.

Despite a statement on its website promising regular updates of credit card expenditure there had been no such update since the 2015 data was published. The new itemised statistics for 2016 and 2017 have only been made available publicly following a Freedom of Information request asking for the missing years' details.

According to council sources the lengthy "delay" stretching back over more than two years was down to "changes to staff roles and responsibilities". The FOI had been lodged before Christmas, and SBC said it would publish the relevant information by a specific date in February. It is expected the 2018 material on corporate credit cards will be posted soon.

As we reported recently the use of credit cards by the council has stirred controversy in the past with local Tory MP (then a member of the Scottish Parliament) John Lamont obtaining the payment details via Freedom of Information [FOI].

Mr Lamont's January 2014 disclosure revealed there had been nearly 1,000 transactions over the previous three years with two departments – the chief executive and environment & infrastructure – emerging as the most prodigious users of plastic cards.

Lists of all items and services bought by this method were released by Mr Lamont ( MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) who claimed Borderers would be “staggered” at the level of spending.

At that time the Border Telegraph reported a council statement which said:“Elected members play no part in sanctioning the use of the credit card…” 

According to the Telegraph the list provided to Mr Lamont showed that, between April, 2012 and November 2013, the chief executive’s department made credit card purchases worth £28,398, compared to £18,057 between November, 2010 and March, 2012.

The newly published lists would suggest use of the cards has been scaled back. Council taxpayers who are interested in the latest data can peruse it for themselves on the SBC website. In the meantime Not Just Sheep & Rugby has taken note of a few items which caught our eye.

Payments made in 2017 - TRACEY LOGAN, chief executive – July 2017 Uplift and return of works vehicle to Council HQ £695.70. Parking charges £6 and £10.

ROB DICKSON, executive director - Feb 2017 - Accommodation - Oil Pollution Course £239.70.

PHILIP BARR, executive director – more than £3,000 on purchase of Edinburgh parking permits during the course of 2017.

DAVID ROBERTSON, chief financial officer - Pension Fund meeting - Meals, Accommodation and Tube Tickets for 3 Officers £1,009.00.

CLAIR HEPBURN, SERVICE DIRECTOR HR – Over the year a total of  £1,500 for Staffing Service Award Vouchers.

Payments made in 2016 - Tracey Logan - Lord Provost Glasgow Event - Accommodation & Expenses for 2 Officers £359.00. Train tickets for 2 - Institute of Directors course £406.47.

Rob Dickson - Conference - 9 places at Federation of Scottish Theatre event £576.00. Book - Titles and Forms of Address - A Guide to Correct Use £12.99.

Philip Barr - Accommodation for 4 Officers - Cleaning Event £361.96. Project Search Conference Accommodation and Airline Tickets for 2 Officers £701.22. Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) - On-line MOT sessions £820.00. Borderlands meeting, and meeting with Secretary of State for Scotland - Accommodation, Breakfast and Dinner for 2 Officers, Taxi Fares £1,384.49.

David Robertson - Accommodation for 3 Officers - Pension Fund Event £1,089.60. Google Site Search - Annual Subscription and Foreign Exchange Fee £1,684.55.

Jeanette McDiarmid, chief executive’s department - Airline tickets for 3 Officers - National Conference Commemorating Gallipoli Campaign £335.72.