The Dunedin City Council is staying tight-lipped about what steps might follow a $200,000 investigation of its financial and reporting practices.
The council confirmed last week a range of allegations from two whistleblowers had been looked into by Deloitte and the firm had examined material in forensic detail.
It was found "some factual events occurred, but they were either not of significant concern or there was a reasonable explanation", a council spokesman said.
No financial irregularities were established, the spokesman said.
The council said the investigation had involved Deloitte reviewing a wide range of electronic records, emails, financial records, briefing papers and meeting minutes, and interviewing staff and other people of relevance.
Deloitte investigation costs were $205,657.18, including GST, the council said.
Legal fees from Anderson Lloyd were $46,795.80, including GST.
The Otago Daily Times asked how the council planned to learn from the experience and what the next steps might be.
"We don’t have anything to add to our earlier statements," a spokesman said.
Allegations in the form of two "protected disclosures" — covered by an Act designed to protect whistleblowers — were made last year to the council’s independent chairman of the audit and risk subcommittee, Warren Allen.
Deloitte was asked to investigate forensically and establish the facts.
The ODT reported last year the investigation was expected to cover issues such as transparency of communication with elected representatives.
Mr Allen briefed councillors this month about the outcome of the investigation, but the Deloitte report was not shared with them.
Asked what the council meant by "factual events" occurring, the council spokesman said they related to "things such as there being a meeting held on a specified date — this is a fact but it is not an issue of any concern".
The council did not add to its commentary about matters raised having reasonable explanations or being not of significant concern, as well as an assertion evidence was "not identified" to support the remainder of concerns.
Briefing the full council about the investigation’s outcome completed Mr Allen’s role under the council’s policy, the spokesman said.
The ODT asked if Deloitte would carry out additional work, such as presenting recommendations about how some practices should be adjusted.
The council had no comment on the subject.
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