More than £330k spent using SIC credit cards during last financial year
The SIC said credit cards are an ‘essential tool’ for day-to-day operations
SHETLAND Islands Council (SIC) spent more than £330,000 using credit cards in the last financial year – with around £72,000 spent on goods from Tesco.
A freedom of information request also showed that the council had 62 active credit cards in use in 2025/26.
A spokesperson for the SIC said council credit cards are an “essential tool” for day-to-day operations and allow facilities such as schools and care settings to make necessary purchases where other options – such as purchase orders or invoicing – are “not available or practical”.
They also said Tesco transactions are “completed exclusively” through the Click and Collect or delivery services, as cards cannot be used in-store.
“This ensures access to best value for early years settings, care homes, and school canteens,” the spokesperson said.
The total spend using cards in 2025/26 came to just under £335,000 when including some figures provided which had a minus value – assumed to be refunds. When excluding the minus figures, the total comes to just over £350,000.
The credit card spend for 2024/25 was given as £317,744, while the figure for 2023/24 was just under £340,000.
It comes after a similar freedom of information request showed that Orkney Islands Council’s total credit card spend in 2025/26 was just under £189,000.
A range of expenditure is included in the SIC data for 2025/26, from small amounts on food items and learning supplies to higher cost purchases including hotel stays, Loganair flights, training and IT services.
Tesco, which has a supermarket in Lerwick, is the most common supplier listed, with schools often the buyers.
One of the highest single spends was via John Lewis in March this year, which amounted to nearly £4,000 for equipment for the Anderson High School.
More than £15,600 was spent during the year on airline Loganair using cards, while around £14,300 went towards satellite internet provider Starlink and nearly £10,000 to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
Some of the other more high-profile suppliers include Netflix (nearly £379 during the year), Facebook (£650 on advertising) and Temu (£44.43 for equipment at the Sandwick school), while there are some small-scale purchases from clothing companies like Nike and ASOS which are associated with care settings.
Many different suppliers are listed in the data, with other names including NorthLink, Hotel Ibis, Amazon, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Debenhams and Disney Plus.
The spokesperson for the SIC said payment by credit card is a “routine and accepted approach, carefully managed and regularly reviewed to ensure transparency and compliance with council guidelines”.
They added that usage is “robustly monitored, with monthly reviews carried out by finance, and an annual review conducted by our card provider”.
“These checks ensure cards are used appropriately and all spending is legitimate,” the spokesperson continued.
“Each card is office-based, securely stored, and only used by the registered cardholder, in line with council policy. Procedures are in place to prevent unauthorised use and all transactions are supported by valid receipts.
“Where specialist services are required, such as sponsoring overseas care staff, credit cards provide the only acceptable payment method, processed through human resources.
“All spending is subject to financial regulations, and personal data is protected – cardholder names and narratives are omitted from reports, while cost centre and type codes are included for clarity.”
The financial regulations section of Shetland Islands Council’s constitution says that payments using purchasing/credit cards “must only be made on occasions when no other form is acceptable/practical and for such other items as the executive manager – finance may approve”.
“They must be supported by a valid receipt, and are subject to the same controls and authorisation procedures as all other purchase ordering processes,” it continued.
“The card is required to be office based and must not be taken out with the office. The card must be stored securely in a locked drawer or safe. Each card must only be used by the registered cardholder.”
Any exceptions to the above procedures must be agreed in advance with the SIC’s finance manager.
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