Our work programme for 2009/10

Due for release: 23 July 2009 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

Summary: Audit Scotland is undertaking a study of public sector purchasing in Scotland. The aim of the study is to provide a position statement on progress made by the Procurement Reform Programme in implementing the 2006 McClelland report recommendations. It will review progress and impact and identify risks to successful implementation of the Programme.

Due for release: 6 August 2009 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

Summary: The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 established a new legislative framework for civil protection across the UK. This study will assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the arrangements in Scotland to deal with emergencies. In particular, the study will review the implementation of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 in Scotland, examine how well relevant organisations are working together at national, regional and local levels and provide a baseline against which improvements can be assessed in the future.

Contact: Becki Lancaster, Project Manager, Public Reporting Local Government. Tel: 0131 625 1863

Due for release: September 2009 for the Auditor General

Summary: This study will examine HIE’s plans for the future operation of the funicular and relevant historical events and activity.

Due for release: October 2009 for the Auditor General

Summary: This study will examine financial management and budgeting within the Scottish Government focusing on budget assumptions, financial outturn compared to budget and financial management arrangements.

Due for release: October 2009 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

Summary: We will look at the changes in the condition of Scotland’s roads since our previous report and examine the extent to which councils have adopted asset management systems to manage their road networks and associated infrastructure.

Due for release: November 2009 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

Summary: Audit Scotland is undertaking a study into the delivery of efficiencies across the Scottish public sector. The study will provide an overview of the Scottish Government’s 2005/06 - 2007/08 Efficient Government Initiative and will consider the extent to which public bodies are set up to deliver year on year efficiency savings.

Due for release: November 2009 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

Summary: Glasgow is the host city for the Commonwealth Games 2014. This is the first of a series of studies which will monitor progress for each of the three distinct phases of preparation and delivery for the Games:

• phase 1: 2007-2011 – planning moving into implementation;

• phase 2: 2011-2014 – implementation moving into delivery/staging the Games;

• phase 3: post 2014 – the legacy of the Games.

This first study will provide an early assessment of governance, risk management, financial management and programme management arrangements, identify progress since our sport overview report and identify any further action required at this stage, particularly in the changed economic climate.

Due for release: December 2009 for the Auditor General

Summary: Our annual NHS overview report comments on the finance and performance of the NHS in Scotland. It covers the main issues arising from the year’s NHS audit work.

Due for release: December 2009 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

Summary: This study will evaluate the effectiveness of the Scottish public sector in promoting and improving the environment. It will assess how effectively public bodies and their partners are working together to meet environmental objectives and targets, and how much money is being spent on meeting them.

Due for release: January 2010 for the Auditor General

Summary: New Ways is a new approach to defining, recording and measuring waiting times for patients in Scotland. It was first announced by the Scottish Executive Health Department in 2004 and it came into effect on 1 January 2008. The study will include systems testing of patients’ records to ensure that the guidance is being applied as intended.

Due for release: January 2010 for the Auditor General

Summary: Orthopaedics is a large and complex specialty with a high volume of inpatients, outpatients and day cases. NHS boards’ total expenditure on the orthopaedics specialty in 2006/07 was around £333 million, the third highest cost specialty. The study will examine how well services are managed, productivity, efficiency and effectiveness, demand and capacity, accessibility and waiting times.

Due for release: March 2010 for the Accounts Commission

Summary: This report will examine scope for improvements in efficiency and service user uptake by identifying the resources and impact of different leisure strategies and models of service provision. This study will have a strong user perspective.

Due for release: March 2010 for the Auditor General

Summary: Boards play a crucial role in ensuring that governance standards are maintained in public sector organisations. There are recent examples of the failure of public sector organisations to establish an adequate Board. We will assess how Board members are selected and whether the membership of Boards is appropriate. In this study we will also review how the performance of Boards is measured and the arrangements for induction and training for non-executive members.

Due for release: March 2010 for the Auditor General

Summary: Scottish Enterprise and HIE provide support and significant funding for a range of activities relating to business development, growth, innovation and for developing links to global markets for Scottish businesses. We will consider the effectiveness of various funding streams. The study will examine how agencies evaluate outcomes and how this evaluation is used to inform spending decisions.

Due for release: March 2010 for the Accounts Commission

Summary: This report covers key issues arising from the year’s local authority audit work. It includes commentary on aspects of financial and service performance by councils and on the main issues arising from the Best Value audits. A separate report in 2009 will review points which have emerged from the first round of Best Value audits.