CASH-STRAPPED council bosses in York have been saddled with a bill of almost £7,000 to replace lost or stolen mobile phones and computers.

City of York Council employees misplaced 76 phones – all of which were uninsured – in the space of two-and-a-half years, according to figures obtained by The Press under the Freedom of Information Act.

Between June 2008 and the end of last year, 29 phones and five computers bought by the authority and used by staff fell into the hands of thieves, and senior managers are now being urged to adopt a get-tough approach to keeping property safe.

The council, which had to make £21 million in savings this year, has confirmed the value of the equipment lost or stolen during the 31-month period came to £6,785, with the figures showing six phones issued to staff in the adults, children and education directorate were reported missing on the same day in January 2010.

Coun Julie Gunnell, the council’s cabinet member for corporate services, said: “All employees have a responsibility to take extra care and look after equipment owned by the council.

“The council faces severe pressures from funding cuts and employees should make proper efforts not to lose or put at risk this equipment, while managers should ensure that this is happening.

“Taxpayers’ money should be spent on services and not replacing equipment which is lost or stolen. I have asked managers to tighten up measures to protect the council’s property.”

Council employees are allocated equipment such as Nokia phones, Samsung “smart phones” and Toshiba laptops if their line manager decides it is required for their role and can be budgeted for.

Staff must report any lost or stolen devices to their managers, with failure to do so breaching the authority’s financial regulations and leading to disciplinary action.

Laptops are covered by insurance, but a council spokeswoman said mobile phones were not, because the premiums and excesses which would apply mean it was “not economically advantageous”.

Coun Ian Gillies, leader of the council’s Conservative group, said: “If council employees have this equipment, they have got to take responsibility for it.

“It’s down to carelessness and the number of items lost or stolen seems an extraordinary amount.

“Managers should also be carrying out proper inventories, looking for trends in where things are going missing and taking appropriate action.”