THE financial systems of the Upper Wensleydale Community Partnership would need to be more robust as its remit to provide services continued to grow, finance director Peter Annison has warned board members.

Partnership chairman John Blackie told the board that it had won contracts to provide bus services in upper Wensleydale and Swaledale, was seeking to take over management of small business units in Hawes and Reeth, and since July had hosted the post office and a sorting office in the centre of Hawes.

Presenting the management accounts, Dr Annison said the Little White Bus contracts were "critical" to the overall success of the partnership: if these were lost the company would be in serous trouble. From next year the potential turnover would be at least £200,000.

"That's a lot of money and we need robust systems as the business grows," he said. At present bookkeeping systems were not "up to speed," banking was insecure with single signatory authorisation, and no tickets were issued on the Little White Bus. Yet ticketing machines, business internet banking and other solutions to increase security all carried a cost.

Once the new bus contracts to serve upper Wensleydale and Swaledale were in place from April, said Dr Annison, there was a potential income from the buses alone of £30,000 a year. To allow cash handling with no tickets was not sensible.

"We must have robust systems in place. I would be failing in my duty as finance director if I did not bring these matters to the board," he said.

Cllr Blackie said that if they introduced ticketing they would be in danger of losing valuable volunteer drivers who could be "trusted 100 per cent. We are incredibly fortunate to have them and to be able to run such an excellent service," he said. Director Joe Pilling said the purpose of introducing tickets was in fairness to the staff, not suspicion of them.

Cllr Blackie agreed the remit of the partnership was growing as austerity drives in local authorities diminished local services. Upper Wensleydale had kept its library services, buses, community centre and even its post office. He reminded members the contract for the post office was in his name alone, and he was entirely responsible for it. He had signed the contract on his own behalf, not on behalf of the partnership.

"I get the commission on all transactions and pay it over to the community partnership. I also take all the financial risks. You may think it a bizarre situation but that's just how the Post Office works," he said.