29 June 2007
Public bodies need to develop more rigorous approaches to performance monitoring and reporting, Audit Scotland has found.
In its annual report, published this week, the spending watchdog said many of its reports in the past year had highlighted a need to focus more on outputs and outcomes.
The report stated: 'It can be difficult to find robust evidence that particular policy initiatives or developments are actually delivering best value.'
It also disclosed that the number of complaints raised about organisations increased by 180% on 2005/06.
Of the 527 complaints, 104 related to the troubled East Lothian Council, and 180 to Glasgow Housing Association, one of Europe's biggest social landlords.
The annual report shows that in 2006/07, Audit Scotland audited about 200 public bodies and more than £29bn of public expenditure.
Auditor general Bob Black said public services continued to face challenges in Scotland. 'In the context of a tightening budgetary environment, all public services… need to ensure they are delivering best value,' he added.
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