Local government national reports 2012/13

28 March 2013 for the Accounts Commission

Councils face tougher challenges in the year ahead, particularly in dealing with budget pressures, says the Accounts Commission in its annual overview report.

20 March 2013 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) have not met the ambitious goals set for them but with the right leadership and support could make big inroads to achieving them in the future.

20 March 2013 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

Community Planning Aberdeen has improved, but commitment from all partners, particularly NHS Grampian, has to be clear and consistent. The Commission said it was encouraged by recent changes and an emphasis on prevention, but the momentum needs to be maintained.

20 March 2013 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

The North Ayrshire CPP was well-established and had made good progress in some areas. As one of the five most deprived local authority areas in Scotland, it faced considerable challenges, but the partnership had recognised the need for changes to improve its effectiveness.

20 March 2013 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

The Scottish Borders CPP had also demonstrated effective joint working in specific initiatives but was seen by some partners as still largely a council-run body. It has had some weaknesses in leadership which it was now seeking to address.

14 March 2013 for the Accounts Commission

Councils spend significant amounts of money on building and maintaining infrastructure - more than any other part of the public sector - but lack sufficient information for fully effective scrutiny, says the Accounts Commission.

31 January 2013 for the Accounts Commission

The long-term viability of councils’ trading standards services is under threat, potentially leaving consumers without important protection from rogue traders, scams and unsafe goods, says the Accounts Commission.

13 December 2012 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

There remain major differences in the health and life expectancy of different groups of people in Scotland. The problem is complex and addressing it requires a range of public bodies working together effectively; it is not just the responsibility of health services.

7 November 2012 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

Reoffending is a continuing problem in Scotland. A range of bodies provide many services to reduce reoffending, but there is a mismatch between what is delivered and what is known to work.

4 October 2012 for the Accounts Commission

All councils in Scotland can improve how they manage their performance.

16 May 2012 for Audit Scotland

The National scrutiny plan provides a summary of the scrutiny activity for each council in Scotland. The information is based on the risk assessment and scrutiny plans drawn up for each council and contained in the Assurance and Improvement Plan, (AIP).

10 May 2012 for the Accounts Commission

Local authorities spend almost £40,000 every minute (£21 billion a year) providing vital services. But they can do more to ensure every pound delivers maximum value for the people they serve.