NI council’s spending on community projects comes under scrutiny

Those were some of the items highlighted following an audit into the spending by Derry City and Strabane Council on Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) projects.

A report presented to councillors earlier this year made 44 recommendations to improve controls on spending.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds are spent by the council each year on funding projects through the PCSP.

Auditors highlighted an invoice for an airline ticket that “did not state the amount of the flight or confirm who the flight was for”.

Another instance raised by auditors was a “a purchase of flowers with no explanation why these were purchased”.

The auditors also pointed to “petty cash invoices” submitted in claims for public money that “related to the purchase of cigarettes for bingo prizes”.

While the internal audit carried out by the council, which was first discussed by councillors in July, found the oversight of spending to be “satisfactory”, serious concerns were raised by councillors when the report was first presented.

A proposal was put forward in July for an external, forensic audit to be carried out that gained the support of the SDLP, People Before Profit, an Alliance councillor, Aontu and several independents.

But the combined opposition of Sinn Fein and the DUP was enough to vote down the proposal.

Another proposal was put forward last month, following a ‘call-in’ of the majority decision in July not to proceed with the external audit, but again this was voted down by a majority of councillors.

DUP councillor David Ramsey, who chairs the council’s audit committee, said an external audit is not required.

“The audit team sat down with [party colleague] councillor Keith Kerrigan and I and we went through this meticulously,” he said. “Why would we spend money on something that would bring back the same result? Council just did not see the point.”

Independent republican councillor Gary Donnelly, however, has said the council should attempt to “claw back” some of the money.

“My original intention, along with the SDLP, People Before Profit, Aontu and independents, was to investigate this further through an external audit but that has been blocked on two occasions,” he said.

“But where there is no assurance that the money was used for what it was intended, council has a duty to claw this money back.”

People Before Profit councillor Eamonn McCann said: “What we’re looking for is complete transparency.

“Many people in Derry will be bewildered that items of travel can be recorded without adequate explanation, or flowers for example. This isn’t acceptable when we’re spending ratepayers’ money.

“Money’s too tight to mention so I believe councillors are entitled to this information because it breeds suspicion.

“We can’t say that there’s anything wrong but we want that to be shown.”