Peter March, who retired recently after 40 years with Glasgow City Council and its predecessor authorities, was named Public Finance Professional of the Year at last night’s ceremony, held at the CIPFA Scotland conference in Clydebank and sponsored by Grant Thornton.
Ben Hartman of Edinburgh City Council took the award for Innovation, Improvement and Public Finance Best Practice, while the Devolved Taxes Legislation team at the Scottish Government was named as the Public Finance Team of the Year.
Meanwhile, CIPFA announced that it is collaborating with Capita Asset Services to offer a new programme in financial management skills and scrutiny to Scottish councillors.
CIPFA Scotland head Don Peebles highlighted Audit Scotland figures showed Scottish councils have around £15bn of debt.
Treasury management and borrowing is a complex and specialist process, but this figure hammers home the need to provide better training and support to those who make spending decisions in local authorities,’ he said.
'We are therefore delighted that CIPFA are able to partner with Capita to run this important and innovative programme. The course modules will focus on two objectives: to provide a non-technical understanding of borrowing and treasury management and to develop the practical financial scrutiny skills of elected members.’
