Longer-term joint planning is needed to address child poverty in Scotland, which has increased since targets were set in 2017.

The Scottish Government's policies and spending remain more focused on helping children out of poverty rather than long-term measures to prevent it. Over a quarter of children in Scotland - 260,000 - were living in poverty before the Covid-19 pandemic. And the current cost-of-living crisis risks making the situation worse.

We extend our sincere condolences to the Royal Family on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Queen’s 70-year reign was defined by her dedication to public service and sense of public duty, values that resonate with many in the public sector across Scotland.

Councils have a critical role in helping Scotland achieve its national climate change goals, in particular reducing CO2 emissions and adapting and transforming services. Climate change must be central and integral to all council activity.

The Accounts Commission, the independent body that holds councils to account, has published a briefing highlighting the vital role of councils in addressing climate change and identifying areas where further action is needed to address the climate change emergency.

Shetland Islands' leaders need to increase their pace and focus to deliver urgent change. The Accounts Commission is not confident the council is able to show it is financially sustainable.

The Accounts Commission, the independent body that holds councils to account, raises serious concerns about whether the council is delivering on its duty to provide best value for local people. Best value is about ensuring good governance and effective management of resources, with a focus on improvement.

There are concerns too around:

Audit Scotland's new chief operating officer Vicki Bibby starts at the organisation today.

Vicki is an experienced leader in Scotland's public sector and joined Audit Scotland from Public Health Scotland, where she was Director of Strategic Planning and Performance . She has also previously worked at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) as Head of Resources and Chief Finance Officer, and has previously worked as an auditor.

The overall level of identified public sector fraud and error in Scotland has fallen slightly, according to the results of a national counter-fraud exercise.

Every two years the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) identifies outcomes worth millions in estimated savings to the public sector purse. The 2020/21 NFI exercise in Scotland identified outcomes valued at £14.9 million compared to £15.3 million in 2018/19. This included:

Scotland's colleges responded well to Covid-19, but changes are needed to ensure they are financially sustainable in the long term and more students graduate.

Covid-19 funding contributed to a better-than-expected end of year operating position for the sector in 2020-21. However, colleges’ finances are forecast to deteriorate.

Angus Council serves its communities well, has made impressive improvements to services in recent years and benefits from effective leadership and a clear vision. There is strong partnership working and collaboration to help deliver services that benefit local people.

Funding of Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) in 2020/21 increased by nearly 10 per cent in real terms, bringing total funding to £10.6 billion. This was mainly due to one-off Scottish Government funding to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19.

Reserves also tripled, reflecting unspent Covid-19 funding and the late allocation of specific funding for primary care, community, mental health and alcohol and drug support.