New scrutiny chief pledges change

13 Dec 07
Changes in Scotland's Best Value system will be overseen by Professor John Baillie, the newly appointed chair of the Accounts Commission, which is responsible for the audit of local government.

14 December 2007

Changes in Scotland's Best Value system will be overseen by Professor John Baillie, the newly appointed chair of the Accounts Commission, which is responsible for the audit of local government.

Baillie told Public Finance this week that it was likely that there would be more focus on community planning, outcomes, corporate processes and the style and content of reporting. 'Predominantly, there will be changes in emphasis,' he said.

Audit Scotland, which provides services for the commission, is reviewing the first round of Best Value studies. Councils have called for a more 'flexible, risk-based and proportionate' system.

Baillie, an accountant who has been appointed chair following four years as a member of the commission, said Best Value had come a long way since it was first introduced and had become established as a credible process.

But the system needed to be developed so that changes could be introduced in time for the second round of audits, due to start in 2009.

He added: 'The new, developed process will respond to a number of points we have noticed and to points made by others. The developments taking place will cover a number of facets.'

The Scottish government, he said, was already moving towards an outcome-based approach. Baillie confirmed that the commission has been considering the introduction of star ratings, which have not been used in Scotland so far.

But he emphasised that councils' different circumstances had to be taken into account, including levels of deprivation, which placed particular burdens on local authorities. 'We are open to suggestions at this stage and we see difficulties in using star ratings.'

Baillie comes into office as the Scottish government is about to give its verdict on the Crerar report, which proposed a radical reduction in the number of bodies that inspect and regulate public services in Scotland.

He agreed that the present system places too many demands on the time of bodies being scrutinised and that there was a need for a more streamlined system. Changes should be 'to the benefit of the scrutinee and to the benefit of the scrutiny process', he said.

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