Scotland's colleges maintained sound finances and learning while undergoing significant reforms. The sector must now prepare to address future challenges as these changes continue to take effect, Audit Scotland reports today.

In Scotland's Colleges 2015, Audit Scotland states that reducing the number of incorporated colleges to 20 and creating 13 new college regions has had implications for funding, learning provision, and how colleges are managed and scrutinised.

Our corporate plan for the next three years sets out our priorities and a strategy which will help us achieve our ambition of becoming a world class audit organisation that improves the use of public money.

We also recently published a joint statement from the Auditor General for Scotland, the Accounts Commission and Audit Scotland. Public Audit in Scotland sets out the principles and common themes for Public Audit in Scotland.

The creation of a single fire and rescue service for Scotland was managed effectively, and its performance is improving. A long-term financial strategy is now urgently needed to address a significant potential funding gap.

There is a gap between East Dunbartonshire Council's ambitions and delivering these on the ground, says the Accounts Commission.

In a report published today the Commission says the council delivers good services but there is an increased risk of these not being maintained in the longer term without improvements in the way it is run.

The council needs to save £23.3 million - around ten per cent of its budget - over the three years to 2017/18. At the same time its overall financial reserves are low and are projected to fall further.

The Assistant Auditor General for Scotland has been recognised for his commitment to public sector audit with a prestigious award from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

Russell Frith was presented with the Ian Doig Award for services to CIPFA in Scotland at the accountancy body’s AGM in May.

Audit Scotland has published its annual report and accounts for 2014/15.

The report highlights our work over the past year and areas where it has had an impact.

Themes include the strength of the public audit model in Scotland, significant changes facing the country’s public finances and the need for audit to respond to those changes.

Audit Scotland’s role is to ensure that more than £40 billion expenditure on public services is spent properly and effectively.

The Scottish Government and central government bodies continue to encounter difficulties in managing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programmes, though progress is being made to overcome these issues.

ICT can help to deliver better public services, as well as reducing costs and meeting future demand. A report published today by Audit Scotland assesses the Scottish Government's oversight of ICT programmes, and features examples of how some central government bodies have managed such projects.

The Accounts Commission has published its annual report for 2014/15. The report highlights the Commission's work in auditing Scotland's 32 councils.