New local government scrutiny plan 2013/14

The third National Scrutiny Plan for Local Government has been published today. Prepared by the main organisations responsible for scrutinising Scotland’s councils, the activity timetable shows strategic scrutiny work for 2012/13, looking at each council overall and its key services.

The plan is based on risk assessments of each council and agreed local and national priorities. It is not a measure of councils’ current performance.

Accounts Commission chair, John Baillie said,

“Better targeting has reduced the overall level of scrutiny on councils following the streamlining of the system and better coordination and sharing of information across the scrutiny bodies.

“Councils are also making greater use of scrutiny and assessing their own performance, backed up by robust supporting evidence. We welcome this.”

“The overall aim is to get a sharper focus on potential risks that lie ahead so that issues can be addressed sooner and more effectively.”

The National Scrutiny Plan is supported by Assurance and Improvement Plan Updates for each of the 32 councils. These local plans set out in more detail the reasons behind the planned scrutiny activity for each council.