Edinburgh Council failed to appropriately pay volunteer staff at an outdoor centre, according to an HMRC investigation.

The tax service said the breaches were not ‘deliberate’ – but still fined the council almost £22,000, along with a requirement that the four volunteers be paid back wages.

According to a council report, workers at the Benmore outdoor centre were classed by the council to be volunteers, but the investigation found they should be considered employees.

HMRC also said the council had failed to keep up-to-date records of hours worked at the centre, and only had data from planned work schedules.

Two complaints by staff were considered by HMRC, with one complaint leading to the conclusion that the volunteers on site were employees for the purpose of employment law.

HMRC sai

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