News

• Social work director sacked after overspend

The head of social work of East Dunbartonshire Council, Pam Fenton, has been suspended from work following an investigation into a budget overspend by her department of some £1.4m.

In March council leaders predicted a £500,000 overspend on the social work budget for 2001-2. Then early in June the real extent of the overspend was revealed - 9 per cent of the department's £17.5m budget - and an initial investigation was ordered.

The local authority described Fenton's suspension from work on full pay as "precautionary and neutral measure" which will run for two weeks in the first instance while a disciplinary investigation is pursued.

There is no suggestion of fraud but rather a possible breach of the council's financial management procedures.

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.

Fenton was formerly head of community care services at the local authority.