By David Scott
06 August 2009
A city council that was the subject of a damning report by a local government watchdog has been commended for the ‘prompt and decisive action’ it has taken to resolve its problems.
In a progress report, the Accounts Commission for Scotland said Aberdeen City Council still had much to do but it now had a very promising base for further improvement.
The council, which was at the centre of a long-running controversy over its management and ‘precarious financial position’, was told by the commission in May 2008 that it faced ‘extremely serious challenges’ and needed external support to make the changes needed.
In its latest report, issued on July 30, the commission particularly welcomed the steps taken by the council to establish new management structures and a new senior management team, the changes made in organisational culture and corporate performance management and the moves made to improve budget setting.
Commission chair John Baillie said: ‘The council has made a good start in addressing our findings on the initial Best Value audit report and we commend the progress made across a range of activity.
‘We are encouraged by the prompt and decisive action taken by the council and consider that it now has a very promising base for further improvement.’
As part of new arrangements to streamline the scrutiny system in Scotland, the commission view was published along with the Social Work Inspection Agency’s report on the council. The agency found there had been considerable developments since the appointment of an interim programme director for social work. It said there was now a clearer sense of purpose and improved staff morale.
06 August 2009
A city council that was the subject of a damning report by a local government watchdog has been commended for the ‘prompt and decisive action’ it has taken to resolve its problems.
In a progress report, the Accounts Commission for Scotland said Aberdeen City Council still had much to do but it now had a very promising base for further improvement.
The council, which was at the centre of a long-running controversy over its management and ‘precarious financial position’, was told by the commission in May 2008 that it faced ‘extremely serious challenges’ and needed external support to make the changes needed.
In its latest report, issued on July 30, the commission particularly welcomed the steps taken by the council to establish new management structures and a new senior management team, the changes made in organisational culture and corporate performance management and the moves made to improve budget setting.
Commission chair John Baillie said: ‘The council has made a good start in addressing our findings on the initial Best Value audit report and we commend the progress made across a range of activity.
‘We are encouraged by the prompt and decisive action taken by the council and consider that it now has a very promising base for further improvement.’
As part of new arrangements to streamline the scrutiny system in Scotland, the commission view was published along with the Social Work Inspection Agency’s report on the council. The agency found there had been considerable developments since the appointment of an interim programme director for social work. It said there was now a clearer sense of purpose and improved staff morale.
