Important: Cookie Policy
We use cookies to help keep our site relevant and easy to use. To help us do this
we need your permission to use cookies. Read more...
EU legislation requires that all websites clearly specify if cookies are being used
and their purpose. For more information on the cookies we use view our privacy policy.
South Ayrshire Council use Google Analytics which uses cookies to anonymously track
activity on our site. We use this information to keep our site relevant and to make
it easier to use. We have already set a cookie that is essential to the sites operation.
If you accept the use of cookies on this website you will no longer see this message.
We will also place a preference cookie and Google will place temporary session cookies
on your computer.
Should you later, manually delete the preference cookie then you will need to re-confirm
your preference when you next visit this website.
Yes, I accept the use of cookies
South Ayrshire Council
Best Value Audit
In April 2009, Audit Scotland published the findings of their Audit of Best Value and Community Planning, which they had carried out on behalf of the Accounts Commission.
In its findings the Accounts Commission reported that the Council had made limited progress towards delivering best value and faced severe financial pressures which posed significant risks and which would make it more challenging for the Council to make the improvements needed.
In July 2009, the Council formally accepted the findings of the Accounts Commission, agreed all of the recommendations outlined in the Audit report and approved an Improvement Agenda to address the recommendations.
In March 2010 the Council prepared an assessment of how it had addressed the recommendations contained in the findings from the Accounts Commission and summarised the progress that it had made. This was submitted to Audit Scotland to inform a follow up audit that the Accounts Commission had requested be carried out, to assess the position of the Council 12 months after the original audit.
The new findings of Audit Scotland have now been published in the Audit of Best Value and Community Planning - Progress Report June 2010. These will be considered by the Council at a meeting on Thursday 1 July at 10.00am in the County Buildings, Wellington Square, Ayr KA7 1DR.
Currently the Council is awaiting the Accounts Commission findings. The overall conclusions within the report from Audit Scotland were as follows:
- South Ayrshire Council has made good progress in addressing important aspects of the improvement agenda set out in its first Best Value audit report in April 2009. It has improved its financial position and strategic leadership, with elected members and officers working well together, and has begun to establish a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organisation.
- The council has put in place the main building blocks of a best value organisation. Many of the activities are at early stages of development and implementation and the council recognises the continuing challenges that lie ahead. Key areas for further development include full implementation of a comprehensive performance management system, developing a more strategic approach to service review and strengthening community engagement.
- The council has an ambitious improvement agenda, but now needs to consolidate all improvement activity into a single plan which is effectively prioritised and resourced, and supported by effective project management. In taking forward this agenda and building on the progress made so far the council now needs to more fully involve partners and communities.
Copies of the Audit of Best Value and Community Planning - Progress Report June 2010 are available for download, can be posted out to you by phoning 01292-612622, and can be requested from the undernoted address:
DAVID ANDERSON
Chief Executive
South Ayrshire Council
County Buildings
Wellington Square
AYR
KA7 1DR