17 March 2011 - Audit Scotland

8. The Cabinet Secretary has welcomed the progress made through the scrutiny coordinationwork, and asked the Accounts Commission to take on a co-ordination andfacilitation role in respect of local government scrutiny as one of its accepted functions.The Cabinet Secretary’s letter therefore formalises the role previously carried out on atransitional basis.9. The letter also makes it clear that involvement in the co-ordination activity by all localgovernment scrutiny bodies (including the Commission) is to be regarded as an aspectof their obligations under the duty of co-operation established by section 114 of thePublic Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. This, therefore, provides (along with thepower of Scottish Ministers to issue directions or guidance in relation to compliance withthe duty) a statutory framework for scrutiny co-ordination activity.The Commission’s position10. At its meeting in November 2010, the Commission considered an evaluation of thescrutiny co-ordination role and agreed various points including that—It should continue to ensure improvement in the shared risk assessment processand existing scrutiny co-ordination activity; andIt would examine carefully its potential involvement in any future extension ofscrutiny co-ordination activity and would continue consideration of this at itsannual strategy seminar.11. The endorsement and formalising by Scottish Ministers of the Commission’s scrutiny coordinationand facilitation role as one of its accepted functions is, therefore, welcome.12. In respect of the further development of scrutiny co-ordination, the Commission will notethat one of the next steps outlined in the stock-take report [at paragraph 15c)] is to givefurther consideration during 2011/12 to the scope for extending scrutiny co-ordination.This mirrors the Commission’s own agreement (noted at paragraph 10 above) toconsider this further. The Commission will wish to consider this in some detail over thenext few months, including with partners in the strategic group and in the light of anyrecommendations from the Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services.Recommendation13. The Commission is invited to consider the correspondence from the Cabinet Secretaryfor Finance and Sustainable Growth and the terms in which it wishes to respond.Fraser McKinlayDirector of Best Value and Scrutiny Improvement9 March 20112