Communities across Scotland provided a vital and immediate response to help mitigate the impacts of Covid-19, and the momentum and lessons need to be sustained.
A joint update from the Accounts Commission and the Auditor General for Scotland outlines how Scotland’s public bodies worked with and empowered communities in the response to the pandemic, creating new ways of delivering support. The speed at which some communities were both enabled and empowered to work with councils, partners and charities showed how bureaucratic barriers can be quickly removed.
Public services at South Ayrshire Council perform well and residents are satisfied with the services they receive. However, the council must move faster in changing services for the future.
A report published today by the Accounts Commission says many council services are performing well, including those aimed at improving the local economy. Citizens also benefit from the good relationships between local communities and partner organisations and between councillors and council officers. Together they responded effectively to tackle the impact of Covid-19.
Audit Scotland pays tribute to Robert Black CBE, Scotland's first Auditor General. Bob died on Friday 15 October.
Bob was the first AGS and Audit Scotland's first Accountable Officer, serving from 2000 to 2012. He led Audit Scotland through its creation and establishment as a new organisation in the newly devolved Scotland.
Auditor General for Scotland Stephen Boyle said:
The body responsible for overseeing Scotland's 20,000 crofts must improve its governance and rebuild damaged relationships between its board and managers.
There has been a breakdown in trust between the Crofting Commission's Board and its senior management team, including:
The Scottish public body that procured PPE during the pandemic acted fairly and appropriately when awarding contracts.
NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) used emergency procurement provisions to award PPE contracts without competition during the first wave of Covid-19. There was some variation in the contracts, but auditors were satisfied with the procurement arrangements.
Most of Scotland's councils have maintained or improved their delivery of vital benefits during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite short-staffing and major disruptions from having to abruptly move to home or remote working.
The Covid-19 vaccination programme has made excellent progress in vaccinating a large majority of the adult population in Scotland.
By 17 September, more than 90 per cent of people aged 18 or over had received at least one Covid-19 vaccine. Levels of vaccine wastage have been low, and the programme has helped reduce the number of people getting severely ill and dying.
Over the past four years, East Dunbartonshire Council has continued to improve many of its services and is focused on improving the quality of life for local people.
A report published today by the Accounts Commission recognises that the council is well led and understands the actions needed to improve still further. Local people are, overall, satisfied with their local services. Its education services are performing well, even in the most deprived areas.
The Scottish Government estimates it has spent over £8.8 billion of the £9.3 billion allocated to support Covid-19 spending in 2020/21.
However, transparency around what is classed as Covid-19 spending across government portfolios remains challenging in a fast-moving and unpredictable environment.
