Angus Council provides good services but quicker progress needed on Best Value

The Accounts Commission says the council still has much to do to ensure it is organised to deliver Best Value.

Angus Council has clear ambitions for its area and is making progress with its partners towards their shared goals. Services are generally of a good quality and well regarded by the local community. Although the council consults widely with local people it needs to strengthen local involvement in community planning.

Chair of the Accounts Commission John Baillie said:

“Angus Council is providing good services that are well regarded by local people. However the council still needs far better corporate processes to help it maintain these standards and drive improvement. In particular councillors need much better information on service performance and the options available to them so they can make sure the council delivers the best possible services in the most efficient and effective way.”

“In general, progress against many of the recommendations we made in our first Best Value audit in 2004 has been disappointing. There are welcome signs that the pace is now picking up, and this now needs to progress as quickly as possible.”

Another key point is that the requirements of effective scrutiny do not appear to be sufficiently well understood. This limits the council’s ability to focus leadership on delivering key priorities.

John Baillie continued,

“The lack of progress on establishing independent scrutiny of the authority’s performance is particularly disappointing. The newly-formed Scrutiny and Audit Subcommittee is chaired by the leader of the council, which cannot be regarded as good practice.”

Councillors also need to develop their ability to work together in a constructive way to provide strong strategic leadership, and to challenge and hold officers to account. Political leadership and senior management need to work together to ensure that the information systems, processes and governance structures are in place to ensure robust and transparent challenge by councillors of officers.