Accounts Commission

Scotland’s councils have increased reserves over the last year but must address the impacts of an overall reduction in funding and ongoing challenges caused by Covid-19.

Moray Council has made progress in some important areas to address financial stability and having plans in place to tackle poor performing services, although challenges remain as it seeks to deliver strategic change, the Accounts Commission has said.

A report recently published by the Accounts Commission on the issues facing local authority housing benefit services across Scotland has demonstrated the good work taking place in West Lothian to help some of its most vulnerable residents. The report highlighted the unprecedented challenges and addi

Falkirk Council’s leaders need to urgently make and implement big decisions about how to deliver sustainable services and make significant and necessary savings having stalled progress over the past three years, according to the Accounts Commission. The independent body that holds local c

Andrew Cowie, a member of the Accounts Commission, discusses future reporting on the performance of Scotland’s housing benefit services. Every year, Scotland’s councils pay out £1.4 billion in housing benefit. Council benefit services are a lifeline service to many needing vital he

Public services at South Ayrshire Council perform well and residents are satisfied with the services they receive but the pace of change must improve in the future, a report published today by the Accounts Commission has concluded.

Most of Scotland's councils have maintained or improved their delivery of vital benefits during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite short-staffing and major disruptions from having to abruptly move to home or remote working. In a report published today, the Accounts Commission, which reports on the perfo

East Dunbartonshire Council services perform well, with high levels of customer satisfaction according to a new report published today by the Accounts Commission. Over the past four years, East Dunbartonshire Council has continued to improve many of its services and is focused on improving the quali

Aberdeen City Council’s leader has welcomed a report from Scotland’s public spending watchdog for local government that praised the council’s drive and innovation in improving services. The Accounts Commission commended the council on performance gains made since its last Best Valu

Addressing the issue of longer-term financial certainty for councils is vital for the Scottish Government to ensure services are maintained and that councils can tackle the multiple challenges ahead, the Accounts Commission said today.

Covid-19 will drive large rises in costs and spending combined with falling income for Scotland's local authorities, according to an overview of local government finances published today by the Accounts Commission. Despite an increase of funding received by councils of £500 million in 2019/20,

Over the last four years many services provided by the City of Edinburgh Council have improved, its finances have been well-managed and ambitious strategies to improve the lives of local people and the economy have been agreed.

Aberdeenshire Council continues to deliver many services to a good standard but needs to be clearer about what it wants to achieve and increase its focus on deprived neighbourhoods, according to the Accounts Commission. In a report published today, the watchdog said council officers and councillors

Dundee City Council must quicken progress to address complex and deep-rooted problems such as poverty, inequality and drug-related deaths, according to the Accounts Commission.

Services in Moray Council are continuing to deteriorate, in particular within education, according to a new report from the Accounts Commission.