East Lothian Council has shown limited progress and capacity to establish Best Value
East Lothian Council is performing just below the Scottish average, and has made limited progress in establishing Best Value. The Accounts Commission says that the council now has a very good opportunity to introduce change to address the major issues it faces.
In its first report on Best Value and Community Planning at East Lothian Council, published today, the Accounts Commission for Scotland says East Lothian Council has many inherent advantages: the area has relatively high employment and life expectancy rates, low rates of deprivation and crime, good transport links and an attractive environment. So it is therefore of particular concern that the council is performing just below the middle of the range and has made such limited progress in establishing Best Value.
Staff are committed and there are examples of successful service delivery and good improvement work within services, but the audit (prior to the council elections) found significant weaknesses:
- There has been informal decision making and a lack of openness and transparency, caused by relationships between political and managerial leaders being unduly close.
- The council has no financial strategy and does not have a systematic approach to the management of assets.
- Leadership of the council has lacked vision and coherence and has not promoted continuous improvement.
- Elected member leadership capacity has been limited and they have not been well supported to develop this capacity.
- This is combined with a lack of strategic focus and leadership by the Corporate Management Team.
Accounts Commission Deputy Chair Isabelle Low said: “East Lothian Council has so far made limited progress in establishing Best Value for its local population, which is of particular concern considering its advantages. And its lack of openness and lack of leadership have not served it well.
“However, with significant changes in political leadership since the May 2007 elections and plans for a review of senior management with the departure of the Chief Executive, the council now has a very good opportunity to introduce a programme of change and development to achieve Best Value. We urge the council to make the most of this and consider the options it has for external assistance, including learning from best practice in the local government community.”
The Commission says the issues the council should address immediately are:
- Open and transparent decision making, with members and officers adhering to their roles and responsibilities
- More robust and effective scrutiny arrangements
- Effective support and training for members
- A stable senior management structure with the capacity to take forward the improvement agenda
- Medium to longer term strategies for effective management of resources including financial planning and asset management
- An effective framework for strategic planning and an integrated framework for continuous improvement.
Isabelle Low continued “We look forward to receiving an improvement plan from the council which addresses the issues raised.”
