27 May 2005
A Scottish council is set to become the subject of one of the most critical reports of a local authority's performance ever produced by the public spending watchdog, the Accounts Commission.
The damning indictment of the management of Inverclyde Council, in the former Strathclyde Region, is due shortly. It is understood the report refers to a pattern of poor performance, out-of-date management practices and a failure to improve or make any impact. According to the commission, the council has also suffered from a lack of consistent and effective leadership, which needs to be addressed urgently.
The report is the result of an investigation carried out as part of the commission's programme of in-depth Best Value audits, which will eventually cover all Scotland's 32 councils. Inverclyde was among the seven chosen for the first year.
Leaders of the Liberal Democrat-controlled council have already commented on the findings, some of which have been leaked locally. Council leader Alan Blair said: 'Serious criticism has been levelled at the council. We have to get our working practices in order. We appear to be falling behind other councils.'
He added that the best way to demonstrate the council's determination to improve was on a consensual basis, and that a recovery group jointly chaired by the LibDems and the opposition Labour group had been formed.
The report is understood to highlight housing services and IT as consistently poor performers, and to criticise the working relationship among council officials and between officials and councillors. Morale among senior management is said to be low. It suggests extensive improvements are needed.
Robert Cleary, chief executive of the Greenock-based council, declined to comment, apart from saying it was for the commission to deliberate on its findings and that the council was holding meetings to consider the details.
A commission spokeswoman said it had no comment before the report was published.
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