Berman backs call for external review on lessons from waste management corruption scandal at Cardiff Council

Responding to calls for an exteral review after council staff were convicted for taking cash bribes from the boss of a skip firm to allow him to cheaply dump waste at one of Cardiff Council's household waste recycling centres, the leader of the council's Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Rodney Berman, said:

“What went on in the Waste Management department was quite horrendous and it is good that those staff involved in the corruption that took place were ultimately held to account following the police investigation and subsequent crown court trial.

“However, what we need to understand is why the mis-recording and significant under-charging of disposed waste wasn’t spotted earlier, and why the council’s systems didn’t identify any discrepancies that could have been picked up by management in the 14 month period during which this scam was operating. What went on only came to light due to the actions of a whistle-blower rather than being spotted by managers.

“A full and proper investigation is therefore essential and having an external investigator would certainly bring greater confidence that any identified failings wouldn’t simply be brushed under the carpet. I am not convinced that an internal review will necessarily give us the necessary insight. We need to be assured that all lessons will be learned from what went on and, for that reason, I would support an external investigation being undertaken.”

ENDS

Notes: Details of the corruption scandal and outcome of the court case can be found here: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/council-staff-took-huge-bribes-28074858