06 July 2009
By David Scott
Political infighting is inhibiting progress in a Scottish local authority that was at the centre of bullying allegations, a watchdog report has found.
Controller of audit Caroline Gardner said the pace of change in West Dunbartonshire Council in 2008 was slow and there was limited evidence of the impact of improvement.
Her progress report, submitted to the council on July 1, followed a 2006 audit that found the council was not in a position to provide best value.
In her latest findings, the controller said the council had not made sufficient progress.
Gardner added: ‘While there is a focus on improvement activity, progress is inhibited by political conflict. The pace of change is slow and there is limited evidence of the impact of improvement, although a number of services continue to demonstrate good levels of performance.’
The report stressed that elected members and chief officers needed to work better together. It also said councillors ‘do not always display high standards of conduct’. The culture of the organisation was complex, ’but is characterised by challenging political behaviour and low staff morale’.
According to the controller’s findings, the council faces significant financial pressure, with a budget ‘gap’ of £7.3m.
Chief executive David McMillan, who has requested early retirement two years before his contract is due to expire, told the council leader in a letter that he had been ‘systematically undermined’ by some elected members.
The Accounts Commission is to publish its findings on the controller’s report on July 9.
By David Scott
Political infighting is inhibiting progress in a Scottish local authority that was at the centre of bullying allegations, a watchdog report has found.
Controller of audit Caroline Gardner said the pace of change in West Dunbartonshire Council in 2008 was slow and there was limited evidence of the impact of improvement.
Her progress report, submitted to the council on July 1, followed a 2006 audit that found the council was not in a position to provide best value.
In her latest findings, the controller said the council had not made sufficient progress.
Gardner added: ‘While there is a focus on improvement activity, progress is inhibited by political conflict. The pace of change is slow and there is limited evidence of the impact of improvement, although a number of services continue to demonstrate good levels of performance.’
The report stressed that elected members and chief officers needed to work better together. It also said councillors ‘do not always display high standards of conduct’. The culture of the organisation was complex, ’but is characterised by challenging political behaviour and low staff morale’.
According to the controller’s findings, the council faces significant financial pressure, with a budget ‘gap’ of £7.3m.
Chief executive David McMillan, who has requested early retirement two years before his contract is due to expire, told the council leader in a letter that he had been ‘systematically undermined’ by some elected members.
The Accounts Commission is to publish its findings on the controller’s report on July 9.
