Local government national reports 2004/05

30 March 2005 for the Accounts Commission

Scotland's councils are maintaining good financial controls, but scope remains for improving the work of audit committees and budget monitoring, while the intended use of reserves and balances must be clearer. These conclusions form part of the Accounts Commission's findings in their review of local authority audits for 2003/04.

3 February 2005 for the Accounts Commission

This report says that while the percentage of waste that was recycled and composted in 2003/04 rose to just over 12%, there is still a long way to go to meet the Scottish Executive target of 25% by 2006.

3 February 2005 for the Accounts Commission

This report highlights a number of challenges faced by councils. In the financial year 2003/04, 60% of 16 and 17 year olds who left care away from home did not gain Standard Grades in English and Maths. 20% of children placed under supervision were not seen by a supervising officer within the 15 day target time. 33% of primary schools were seriously under-occupied.

27 January 2005 for the Accounts Commission

This report shows that there were encouraging signs of further improvement in key areas of social work services last year. There is evidence that home care services are being delivered more flexibly, the proportion of qualified staff in care homes for older people increased and criminal justice services also improved. However, housing services continued to face challenges.

13 January 2005 for the Accounts Commission

These performance indicators show that the number of books being borrowed from libraries continues to fall. However, the role of libraries is changing; in 2003/04 nearly 300,000 people used library learning centres and they used computer terminals 2.4 million times.

13 January 2005 for the Accounts Commission

These performance indicators show that in 2003/04 Scottish councils improved in a number of key areas. They processed benefits claims quicker, paid more invoices on time than ever before and collected 91.7% of council tax.

10 December 2004 for the Accounts Commission

Performance information reveals police forces are clearing up more crime, but serious violent crime remains a major problem.

9 November 2004 for the Accounts Commission

The Accounts Commission for Scotland has a duty under the Local Government Act 1992 to direct local authorities to publish certain information on their performance. The information will enable comparisons to be made between the standards of performance achieved by different local authorities in the specified financial year; and the standards of performance achieved by such authorities in different financial years.

3 November 2004 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

This report says that a backlog of road maintenance has been building up for around ten years; 13% of the network (7,000 km) is now in need of repair. Councils and the Scottish Executive estimate that over £1.7 billion needs to be spent to bring our roads up to standard. This report concludes that greater priority needs to be given to tackling the backlog.

7 October 2004 for the Accounts Commission

This report finds that all fire authorities have made improvements. However modernisation is a long term project and there is still more work to be done.

26 August 2004 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

This report says that councils and the NHS need to do more to improve the planning, organisation and delivery of equipment and adaptation services to support people living in their own homes. The way in which these services are currently organised is confusing for people using these services as well as for staff working in them.

22 July 2004 for the Accounts Commission

The standard of internal audit in Scottish councils has improved since 2001. This follow-up report published today for the Accounts Commission assesses progress made by councils in complying with good practice and shows that 27 councils improved but the level of improvement varies considerably.

15 July 2004 for the Accounts Commission

This Accounts Commission and Communities Scotland joint report looks at how councils and Registered Social Landlords manage empty and low demand houses.The report also proposes a new performance indicator for councils and RSLs to check how well they manage empty homes, including those that are in low demand.

10 June 2004 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

This report looks at the way in which councils plan, purchase and review their older people's services. It also looks at implementation of national policy by councils and their health partners. It concludes that councils and their health partners should redouble their efforts to ensure there are sufficient services to meet the future needs of Scotland's ageing population. In addition the Scottish Executive should monitor whether its policies are being effectively delivered and ensure that information is available and used to plan for the future.

10 June 2004 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission

This follow-up report says Local Economic Forums (LEFs) have made good progress towards their goal of eliminating overlap and duplication in the support provided by the public sector to local businesses. However, it suggests the Scottish Executive reviews whether LEFs should continue in their current form, given the new arrangements for Community Planning.

8 April 2004 for the Accounts Commission

Scottish councils are commended for improving their financial controls and maintaining sound financial stewardship of public funds. However the Accounts Commission expresses serious concern that only one-third of councils have fully established audit committee arrangements. The report also points to the need for better financial reporting to councillors and highlights increasing levels of reserves and balances, suggesting some councils should review their policy on this.