Aberdeen City Council hearing update
The Accounts Commission for Scotland’s Hearing at Aberdeen City Council will take place at Town and County Hall, Town House, Castle Street, Aberdeen on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 May 2008. It will begin at 10am on Tuesday 13 May.
The Commission decided to hold a Hearing when it met on 19 March and considered the Controller of Audit’s report on Best Value and Community Planning at Aberdeen City Council. The report assesses how well the council is performing, the way it is organised and managed to achieve improvements over time, and also identifies areas of weakness and recommendations for improvement.
The decision to hold a Hearing was taken in light of the concerns highlighted in the report. The Commission wishes to hear first hand from representatives of Aberdeen City Council to gain a greater understanding of the council’s difficulties in implementing its long-held vision for the area and its plans to improve its financial position.
A Hearing is a formal process organised and led by the Accounts Commission. Its primary purpose is to assist the Commission to make findings by listening to appropriate evidence.
The Hearing will be held in public. Members of the public, including journalists, are welcome to attend.
At the Hearing the Commission will be represented by a panel of members comprising John Baillie (Chair of the Accounts Commission), Ann Faulds, Keith Geddes, Iain Robertson and Douglas Sinclair. They will explore evidence in relation to what has happened at the council, its current context and its plans for the future.
In particular the Commission wishes to explore:
- the pace of improvement in achieving the council’s vision for the area
- the capacity of the council to secure change
- why staff commitment to the programme of change does not seem to have been achieved
- the council’s financial position
Following the Hearing the Commission will consider the evidence it has gathered. It can then publish findings, which could include recommendations to Aberdeen City Council and also to Scottish Government Ministers.
The Commission will consider any correspondence received in connection with the Hearing but needs to maintain focus on the Best Value & Community Planning audit. Policy decisions at Aberdeen City Council remain the council’s responsibility.
The Commission will decide at its discretion who will be heard at the Hearing and the format of the event. Further details of the likely timetable and speakers will be announced in due course.
For further information contact Anne McCubbin, Audit Scotland Tel: 0131 625 1653 amccubbin@audit-scotland.gov.uk or Simon Ebbett, Audit Scotland Tel: 0131 625 1652 sebbett@audit-scotland.gov.uk
