News

The head of social work for East Dunbartonshire council, Pam Fenton, has been suspended from work following an investigation into a £1.4 million overspend in her department’s budget.

As recently as March, the council leaders predicted a £500,000 overspend on the social work budget for 2001-02. Then early in June the real extent of the overspend was revealed - 9 per cent of the department’s £17.5 million budget, and an initial investigation was ordered.

The council described Fenton’s suspension from work on full pay as a "precautionary and neutral measure", which will run for two weeks in the first instance while an investigation is pursued. There is no suggestion of fraud, but rather a possible breach of the council’s financial management procedures.

Councillor Keith Moody, leader of East Dunbartonshire council, said: "The council is treating this situation very seriously and is doing everything it can, as quickly as it can to conclude matters."

Fenton has been head of social work since 2000 when the former director, Brian Fearon, left his post as part of a council management re-organisation. Formerly she was head of service responsible for community care with the local authority.