IMMEDIATE steps are needed to bolster training and management at a council’s operational base after inspectors found the scores of staff there faced “poor management of risk”.

Auditors said major improvements were required at Hambleton District Council’s Darlington Road depot before an effective control environment would be in operation.

The depot is the base for about 80 staff, including the refuse, recycling and Street Scene teams.

The inspection was carried out to provide assurance that training needs were being identified and managed appropriately, training was provided to members of staff for all the roles they perform, and training documents were being kept up to date.

Inspectors found while specifications outlining the training required for each role were in place, training was not completed and was not up to date for all depot employees.

The auditors report stated: “There is a lack of management oversight taking place which has contributed to training needs not being effectively managed.”

They said there were “a significant number of gaps”, indicating areas of out of date training and record sheets did not fully reflect the current training delivered.

The report added: “There is not an effective system in place for maintaining employee training files. This may lead to training records being incomplete and records not being able to be located as and when required.”

A council spokesman said a senior officers group had been set up to develop an action plan to take forward the  necessary actions to improve arrangements, adding it should be completed by the end of 2018.