A member of the ruling administration at Moray Council is expressing concern that council employees do not trust their own managers to investigate allegations of improper conduct.
The response from Fochabers/Lhanbryde Councillor Douglas Ross came after an internal inquiry was launched over allegations that a private company was allowed to illegally dump waste at a Moray Council tip.
Moray Council has admitted that illegal dumping did take place at their yard on the Moycroft Industrial Estate – but disagree on the number of times such incidents have taken place.
The row came after a member of the Council’s own staff sent an anonymous letter claiming that “lorry loads” of rubbish had been dumped at the site and subsequently covered up by staff from the Council’s direct services department.
While Moray Council refused to give the name of the company concerned in the allegations, a spokesman did admit: “There was a single occasion when material was deposited outwith normal opening hours – and due payment has since been made to the council.”
However, Councillor Ross expressed his concern over the “poor impression” being generated of the council. He said: “This is not the first time I’ve received a complaint about the direct services department from a member of staff.
“I also have worries that council employees are not satisfied that their own managers will properly investigate these allegations. It gives a poor impression of the council.”
The Council spokesman added that inquiries are ongoing on site security and how access had been gained after normal opening hours.