Sandwell Council 'loses' £10,000 tractor
Red-faced council bosses in Sandwell have had to admit that they have "lost" a £10,000 tractor and don’t know where it is.
The "small ride-on tractor unit" went missing earlier this year and despite an exhaustive search and a police investigation its location remains a mystery.
The tale of the disappearing tractor came to light at a meeting of the audit and risk assurance committee, where councillors and independent board members discussed the authority’s annual internal audit.
It stated a review of the grounds maintenance service was carried out after concerns the tractor had gone missing.
The department provides landscape and arboricultural services to a range of council buildings and open spaces and has in excess of 400 pieces of equipment.
In their report to committee members, council officers said: “We noted a poor level of asset and inventory control across the service area, and unfortunately it appears unlikely that the missing tractor unit will be located.”
It added the vehicle was purchased in February 2016 and visits and checks had been made to parks, buildings and satellite depots to try to find it and the matter had been reported to the police.
But the report added: “However, due to the poor audit trail within the council, we understand that the police have since closed the case although efforts continue to locate it.”
Michael Ager, an independent committee member, questioned the council’s record keeping, saying: “It is a particular concern a £10,000 tractor unit seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth.
"Whether other items have gone missing I don’t know but there seems to be a general lack of control in the area. Is that a fair comment?”
In response council officers said they still hoped the tractor could be found and that they had now made improvements in asset control.
