A sound performance by Aberdeenshire Council but a more strategic approach is needed

In the first report on Best Value at Aberdeenshire Council, published today, the Accounts Commission for Scotland welcomes the council’s decentralisation arrangements and devolved decision-making structure. It also highlights the council’s commitment to working with other bodies, its good service performance in a number of key areas and its sound traditional financial control.

However, in order to deliver fully on its Best Value requirements, the council needs to adopt a more strategic approach and coordinate its plans more effectively. The Commission highlights particular areas for improvement, including the council’s approach to community planning, the need to ensure services are competitive, develop risk and asset management and to take a more strategic approach to financial management.

Accounts Commission Chairman John Baillie said: “Aberdeenshire Council is providing good services in a number of key areas and is committed to working with other organisations. It has sound financial control and its decentralisation arrangements and decision-making structure work well.

However it now needs to take a more strategic approach. It should be rigorous in implementing its strategic priorities and both increase and maintain the pace of change to ensure initiatives are followed through and evaluated.

“We look forward to receiving an improvement plan from the council with measurable and achievable outcomes, which take forward the recommendations in the report by the Controller of Audit and the issues highlighted in these findings.”