Orkney Islands Council delivers high quality services, valued by local communities. Now the council must shift its focus to the future, ensuring services remain financially sustainable.

The Scottish Government will not be able to phase out fossil-fuel home heating systems by 2045 unless it significantly increases the scale and pace of activity.

Ministers published the Heat in Buildings Strategy in 2021 and officials then spent almost two years building a team to deliver it. This delay was due to resource constraints, but the Scottish Government would have benefited from addressing its capacity needs sooner. Good progress has been made since 2023, but officials now need to produce a clear action plan.

Jo Armstrong has been appointed as the new Chair of the Accounts Commission.

Jo brings to the role a wealth of experience from across the public, third and private sectors, and is an internationally recognised economist and finance expert. Jo has considerable experience as a non-executive chair and director.

The appointment was confirmed by Joe Fitzpatrick, the Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning, following a recruitment process by the Scottish Government.

The National Audit Office (NAO) has published a report today on HMRC’s administration of Scottish income tax, including the final calculation of Scottish revenues for the 2021/22 tax year.

Renfrewshire Council faces significant challenges in rebuilding the trust of local people, following failings in providing school accommodation for Dargavel Village that will cost £60 million to rectify.

An Accounts Commission report on how the council has responded to an independent review of the issue says that since the primary school project, the council has now failed to engage appropriately or transparently with communities over the expansion of secondary school provision. This risks repeating past mistakes and further undermining public trust and confidence.

Scotland’s councils are managing their money effectively, increasing reserves, with longer-term financial plans in place. Whilst no council was at immediate financial risk in 2022/23, there is no certainty this will continue. This makes an agreement between the Scottish Government and councils to secure a sustainable, longer-term funding arrangement to deliver local services all the more urgent.   

Dumfries and Galloway Council has strong leadership and sound financial management. It now needs to deliver its plans to reform local services, keeping residents better informed on performance and progress.  

The Accounts Commission says the council has a good financial track record, with clear plans to transform services so it can balance future budgets. But the council cannot underestimate the challenges it will face in delivering those plans.