A report on the Efficient Government Initiative has found a commitment to improve efficiency, but says the Executive needs to do more to provide assurance on the levels of savings and their impact on service delivery.

Audit Scotland’s report says that the public sector is generally responding well by embedding the initiative in day-to-day business.

The Accounts Commission for Scotland has published its findings, based on Audit Scotland’s progress report on Best Value at Shetland Islands Council.

The Commission says that Shetland Islands Council has made a start in addressing the issues raised in the Commission’s March 2005 findings, but it remains concerned at the pace and extent of change in delivering improvements.

This report finds that the NHS in Scotland has made progress towards improving the planning and management of ward nursing.

The Health Department and NHS boards are addressing many of the recommendations in Audit Scotland’s 2002 report on ward nursing. Work is underway in a number of areas including:

The Accounts Commission has welcomed a number of improvements by Scotland’s local authorities but warns that major challenges lie ahead. The Commission notes that all councils now have policies setting out their position on reserves; council tax collection has exceeded 93% for the first time; at 24.7%, waste recycling has almost hit its target of 25%; and there is a general picture of improved performance.

The Accounts Commission for Scotland has published its findings today, based on Audit Scotland’s progress report on Best Value at Inverclyde Council.

The Commission says that Inverclyde Council is moving in the right direction, following its critical report in 2005, and that there is a clear commitment and enthusiasm to improve. In particular the Commission acknowledges that the Council has:

In a Best value report published today the Accounts Commission says Edinburgh City Council displays many of the features of a Best Value council, including many examples of good service delivery. However some services, such as refuse collection and the processing of planning applications, still need to improve.

Scottish fire and rescue authorities are giving more emphasis to fire prevention and community safety, but it is too early to demonstrate a sustained reduction in risks from fire.

This is the conclusion of a report published today by Audit Scotland on behalf of the Accounts Commission, looking at progress made by the eight Scottish fire and rescue authorities in modernising their services since the introduction of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.

The Commission has today published its report into Best Value and community planning at the council. Commission chairman Alistair MacNish said: ‘Scottish Borders Council is an ambitious council and it has invested significantly in response to the findings of inspection and audit reports over recent years.

‘It has built its senior management capacity and has developed appropriate and effective political and management systems. Scottish Borders is an ambitious council that is realistic about its strengths and weaknesses.’

Audit Scotland has been working in partnership with the other public audit agencies in the UK to develop indicators that are designed to help public sector managers improve the value for money of their corporate services.

The joint report contains value for money indicators covering:

Mr Black said: “The objectives of the review were to assess whether the projects are progressing in accordance with time and cost targets, and whether appropriate management systems are in place to promote their successful completion. Our report provides a snapshot of where the two projects are at present.

“It is important to emphasise that Audit Scotland has not reviewed the operating costs or projected revenues of the projects. Both of these factors could have a significant impact on the financial operation of each of the projects.”