Accounts Commission

Scotland’s local authority spending watchdog has praised Fife Council for delivering improvements and tackling aspects of underperformance head on. In a report out today, the Accounts Commission said the council has made good progress since a previous audit in 2009.

Dr Graham Sharp, chair of the Accounts Commission The use of ALEOs (arms-length external organisations) by Scottish local authorities has reduced costs and improved standards of care issues of governance and accountability can still exist, the Accounts Commission has said.

Finding savings is now “increasingly critical” for councils dealing with ongoing reductions in funding while maintaining services for an increasingly ageing population, the Accounts Commission has warned. A report from the local authority watchdog said councils are balancing a real terms funding

Falkirk Council has responded encouragingly to previous concerns but needs effective leadership to deliver its five-year improvement programme, according to the Accounts Commission. A new report published today is the third in three years by the local authority watchdog on how Falkirk is meeting the

Clackmannanshire Council must take “urgent and decisive action” to sort out its financial problems as it faces making savings of £29 million over the next three years, the Accounts Commission has warned today. In a new report, the local authority watchdog highlights “serious concerns” about

Accounts Commission deputy chair, Ronnie Hinds An independent report assessing how Orkney Islands Council is fulfilling its statutory duty to demonstrate ‘Best Value’ has determined that the local authority has made significant progress in recent years but needs to build on this for the future.

Councils are showing increasing signs of financial stress and could see their cash reserves run out in two to three years, the local authority watchdog has warned. In its annual financial overview published today the Accounts Commission said funding has reduced while costs and demands have increased

Dr Graham Sharp, chair of the Accounts Commission West Lothian Council has maintained its strong performance but councillors need to play a more active role in the face of a £73.5 million funding gap, the Accounts Commission said today.

Dr Graham Sharp, chair of the Accounts Commission East Dunbartonshire Council has responded positively to previous concerns but needs to maintain momentum, according to the Accounts Commission.

East Renfrewshire remains a high-performing council but its councillors need to be more prominent in dealing with tough challenges ahead, the Accounts Commission has said. A new report published today by the local authority spending watchdog charts the council's progress since a previous audit in 20

Ferguslie Park in Paisley. Photo Credit: Google Maps Renfrewshire Council has been recognised for its “clear and ambitious vision” to revitalise the area's economy and address poverty and inequality.

New ways of offering people more choice and control over their social care can make a real difference but further work is needed to ensure everyone can benefit, according to a report out today. Since 2014 councils have been responsible for implementing Self-directed Support (SDS), which offers peopl

Newly elected councillors in May need to focus on improving long-term planning to tackles the major financial challenges facing Scotland’s local authorities, according to a new report from the Accounts Commission. In its 2017 overview published today, the local government spending watchdog has out

Council leader Rhondda Geekie East Dunbartonshire Council needs to make “significant” improvements if it is to achieve £27.6 million in savings over the next three years, the Accounts Commission has warned.

The Accounts Commission has criticised Falkirk Council for being “slow in grasping the nettle” of tackling major financial challenges ahead. In a report out today the local authority watchdog says it is “disappointed” at the amount of progress at Falkirk since last August.