The boss of Barnet Council's under pressure rubbish collection service says he is confident that “everything will be put right” after being quizzed at a meeting this evening.

Jamie Blake, commissioning director for environment at the authority is in charge of bin collection service Street Scene, which has been heavily criticised in an anti-fraud report.

A report by Barnet Council’s corporate anti-fraud team (Caft) into Street Scene, the council’s own bin collection service, found the refuse crew took cash from business owners for taking away rubbish when they either had no contract to do so, or the business owners already had too much waste.

The council also found a catalogue of poor practice and inappropriate activity, including the risk of nepotism in recruitment, broken CCTV, and council vehicles potentially being used for personal reasons.

Mr Blake said he was confident that lessons have been learned when questioned by Cllr. Brian Sallinger, who chairs the Audit Committee, and said he would make sure that CCTV was fully set up and prepared when Street Scene move to their new depot, with a departure from their current Mill Hill site imminent.

He said: “I am more than happy to report back on security at our new depot whenever required. It is the kind of site where people are likely to try and break in and cause mischief, and we must be prepared.”

Cllr Sallinger also fielded questions into the actions of the council’s auditors from members of the public and fellow councillors, as to why the activities had not been detected sooner.

Cllr Geof Cooke asked: “It raises serious concerns about the council’s auditing powers. If there was no whistle-blower, how long would we have had to wait?”

Cllr. Sallinger responded: “Those people who did not do their job have clearly now gone. I would like to think it would have come to light sooner or later if those in charge had done their job.”

Member of the public Roger Tichborne said he had found via FOI request that only one person had been under surveillance by the audit committee in 2015, and that the evidence found had been used in the case.

He said: “With three people are being taken to court, it is hard to believe that an organisation of this size with such a large anti-fraud agency can only put one person under surveillance. It seems slightly perverse.”

Cllr Sallinger said that surveillance should be a “last resort”.

The investigation into Street Scene occurred after allegations by a whistle-blower, and councillors were keen to praise and encourage a culture of whistleblowing in its services.

Three former Street Scene members of staff are due to appear at Willesden Magistrates Court on February 16, charged with abuse of position. They have all left their jobs with the council.