Error leads to £800k payment to ex-council staff

Highland Council made overpayments totalling more than £800,000 to former members of staff after a routine check was not made.

A new report has found the authority made the payments to almost 600 employees after they had left the organisation.

The council's 2022-23 annual audit shows £863,000 in total was distributed to the former members of staff.

Auditors found there were issues with how leavers were being recorded on council systems, leading to the error.

Highland Council said it was in the process of recovering the funds.

A spokesperson added that an internal audit's recommendations would be implemented to prevent or mitigate a risk of overpayments in the future.