Social work pool cars are “embarrassing”

COUNCIL slogans have had to be wiped off a set of pool cars over fears that staff driving them would be recognised.

Social workers flagged up concerns with their bosses that taking one of the vehicles would “embarrass” sensitive clients.

And environmental standards watchdog staff also expressed fears their cover would be blown if they were on monitoring operations in a car branded with the Dumfries and Galloway Council logo.

The local authority brought in 100 pool cars last year in a bid to clamp down on rising mileage costs.

Councillors were told at a resources committee yesterday that the scheme as a whole had been successful.

But one of the main issues was the logos.

Head of business strategy Harry Thomson told members: “Social work and environmental standards have expressed concern that pool cars with the council logo on them are very recognisable and that this may either cause embarrassment to clients or alert traders to the presence of covert surveillance.

“Removal of logos from social work dedicated vehicles was authorised but not from the general pool. No significant operational problems have been reported as a result.”

Councillors were told that 10 dedicated cars have been given to the social work department after other concerns were flagged up over availability.

Mr Thomson said: “Other departments have complained on a number of occasions that social work reserved cars may sit in car parks when they are unable to access vehicles from their general pool.”