10 October 2003
Scotland's controller of audit, Ronnie Hinds, is leaving Audit Scotland to return to a post in local government, it was disclosed this week.
His decision to quit after only three years with the organisation will be met with surprise in the public sector. He is returning to the City of Edinburgh Council as head of corporate finance, the post he held some years ago.
Hinds became controller of audit and deputy auditor general in September 2000, soon after Audit Scotland was set up to provide services to the Accounts Commission and the auditor general for Scotland, Bob Black.
No explanation has been given for Hinds' decision to leave. Alastair MacNish, chair of the Accounts Commission, said that in the three years he had been with Audit Scotland, Hinds had made a major contribution.
He added: 'He has also made an outstanding contribution to local authority financial management and leaves us with an enhanced reputation. He reported to the commission on a number of
high-profile issues, including Fife Council's involvement with the Third Age Group, the overspend at the Scottish Borders Council and the PFI schools report.'
The Third Age group was one of the bodies that rented accommodation at the Fife Labour Party headquarters of former first minister Henry McLeish, who resigned after allegations concerning rent income and the claiming of office expenses from Westminster.
As controller of audit, Hinds' statutory duties involve investigations and reports to the commission on matters arising from local authority audits. He also reports to the auditor general on the audit of about 150 other public sector bodies.
No date has been confirmed for his departure and no plans made so far to fill the post, which attracts a salary of £90,000-£95,000 a year.
PFoct2003
