Councillors at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar need to provide clearer leadership and direction
Leugh an duilleag seo sa Ghàidhlig
Councillors at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar must provide leadership and clear priorities if the organisation is to improve public services and address significant financial and workforce challenges.
The Accounts Commission, the independent body that holds councils to account, says it is seriously concerned about the need for necessary improvements. While the Comhairle has improved education services and grown the local economy, its redesign of services has resulted in fewer savings than expected, and the pace of change has been too slow. Both the performance of and public satisfaction with some services has dropped over the past five years.
The Comhairle faces complex challenges: the largest real terms funding decrease of Scottish local authorities; depopulation; poor housing availability; and the most severe fuel poverty in Scotland. This places significant pressures on recruiting staff, particularly in critical areas such as social care.
William Moyes, Chair of the Accounts Commission, said:
The Comhairle must urgently develop a prioritised action plan to address the serious issues it faces. It already has some of the elements it needs to make fundamental changes; it has an ambitious vision for the future and works well with communities and other partners.
But without clear strategic direction and leadership from its councillors, supported effectively by officers, as well as crucial effective financial and capital planning, it remains uncertain whether the Comhairle can achieve the improvements it needs to make.
Read more and download the report and other information
Feumaidh comhairlichean aig Comhairle nan Eilean ceannas agus stiùireadh nas soilleire a thoirt seachad
29 Sultain 2022Feumaidh comhairlichean aig Comhairle nan Eilean ceannas agus prìomhachasan soilleir a thoirt seachad ma tha a’ bhuidheann gus piseach a thoirt air seirbheisean poblach agus gus dèiligeadh ri dùbhlain nach beag a thaobh ionmhas is feachd-obrach.
Tha Coimisean nan Cunntasan, a’ bhuidheann neo-eisimeileach a tha a’ cumail chomhairlean cunntachail, ag ràdh gu bheil dragh mòr orra gu bheil leasachaidhean ro-chudromach a dhìth. Ged a tha a’ Chomhairle air seirbheisean foghlaim a leasachadh agus air fàs a thoirt air an eaconamaidh ionadail, chan eil an ath-dhealbhadh air seirbheisean air sàbhalaidhean cho mòr ’s a bhathar an dùil adhbharachadh, agus tha astar an atharrachaidh air a bhith ro shlaodach. Tha an dà chuid ìre coileanadh agus ìre riarachais a’ phobaill le cuid de sheirbheisean air tuiteam thar nan còig bliadhna mu dheireadh.
Tha dùbhlain iom-fhillte mu choinneamh na Comhairle: an lùghdachadh maoineachaidh as motha aig ùghdarrasan ionadail na h-Alba a’ gabhail a-staigh na h-atmhorachd; crìonadh sluaigh; dìth taigheadais; agus a’ bhochdainn connaidh as miosa ann an Alba. Tha seo ag adhbharachadh duilgheadasan le bhith a’ fastadh luchd-obrach, gu sònraichte ann an raointean ro-chudromach leithid cùram sòisealta.
Thuirt William Moyes, Cathraiche Coimisean nan Cunntasan:
Leugh barrachd agus luchdaich a-nuas an aithisg agus fiosrachadh eileFeumaidh a’ Chomhairle plana gnìomh le prìomhachasan gus aghaidh a chur air na dùbhlain mhòr a tha mu a coinneamh. Tha cuid de na h-eileamaidean aice mar-thà a dh’fheumas i gus atharrachaidhean bunaiteach a dhèanamh; tha lèirsinn àrd-amasach aice airson an àm ri teachd agus tha i ag obair gu math le coimhearsnachdan agus com-pàirtichean eile.
Ach às aonais stiùireadh ro-innleachdail soilleir agus ceannas bho na comhairlichean aice, le taic èifeachdach bho oifigearan, a bharrachd air planadh ionmhasail is calpa a tha fìor chudromach, tha e fhathast mì-chinnteach am bi e comasach dhan Chomhairle na leasachaidhean a dh’fheumas i a chur an gnìomh.
