20 February 2009
By David Scott
A council has been criticised by Scotland’s public spending watchdog over its ‘surprising and disappointing’ lack of openness and audit committee arrangements that ‘fall well short of established best practice’.
In a Best Value audit report published on February 19, the Accounts Commission commended South Lanarkshire Council for its overall performance but said it needed to make changes.
Commission chair John Baillie said: ‘Given the strong performance of South Lanarkshire Council in many areas, the lack of scrutiny taking place in public is surprising and disappointing.
‘Openness and transparency are cornerstones of good governance and the council needs to review and amend its arrangements to accord with best practice.’
The commission found that very limited public challenge took place in the council’s executive committee, which is made up of all political parties. It also ‘noted with concern’ the council’s system of filling senior job vacancies by internal appointment, stressing that recruitment to these posts should be open to external competition.
PFfeb2009
