The Auditor General has reported to the Scottish Parliament today on matters raised during the annual audits of three bodies in the college sector.
The following significant issues were identified during the 2014/15 annual audits of Glasgow Colleges' Regional Board (GCRB), Glasgow Clyde College (GCC) and Edinburgh College:
Budget reductions mean starker choices ahead for councils which will not be met simply by continuing to cut staff and services, says a new report.
The Accounts Commission's annual overview of local government charts a 5 per cent drop in revenue funding in the next financial year, bringing a total real terms fall of 11 per cent since 2010/11.
- Read more about Auditor General sets out support for Parliament in scrutinising new fiscal framework
The Auditor General for Scotland has written to the Scottish Parliament to set out the role of the public spending watchdog in the implementation of the new fiscal framework for Scotland.
A lack of national leadership and clear planning is preventing the wider change urgently needed if Scotland’s health and social care services are to adapt to increasing pressures.
The increasing numbers of frail, older people with complex health needs is among the challenges facing health and social care services. The number of people aged 85 and over in Scotland is expected to rise by two-thirds from 114,375 in 2014 to 187,219 in 2030, and double by 2034.
Progress on community planning has not yet achieved the major change needed to fulfil its potential to reduce inequalities and put communities at the heart of delivering public services.
Community planning involves councils and other public bodies working with communities, businesses and voluntary groups to plan and deliver services that improve the lives of local people. Established in 2003, the process is led by 32 Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs), covering each council area.
The City of Edinburgh Council has made considerable progress towards balancing its books, says the Accounts Commission.
The local authority watchdog raised significant concerns in December 2014 over the council's financial position, including a £67 million gap in savings required to meet future funding levels.
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Our follow-up report on Major capital investments in councils was published in January 2016. It found that councils have taken a range of actions and display aspects of good practice. But, overall, they need to increase the pace of improvement to comply fully with good practice.
- Read more about Councils need to up the pace of improving the management of their capital investment
Councils need to improve further the way they manage major projects like schools, roads, housing and flood prevention, says the Accounts Commission.
Over the last three years councils spent £7 billion on capital investment - more than half of Scottish public sector capital expenditure. Between April 2012 and October 2015 councils completed 149 projects and as at October 2015 they had 245 projects worth around £6 billion underway. Over 40 per cent of these are schools. Schools projects continue to perform better to cost and time targets.
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