17 March 2011 - Audit Scotland

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An emergency motion was lodged at the Scottish Liberal Democrat conferenceon joint police forces and the party confirmed it will campaign against such amove.Senior police chiefs have accused the Scottish government of misleading thepublic over attempts to cut the number of police forces in Scotland. TheGovernment had estimated savings of £200m if the eight police forces were to bemerged into one. Scotland on SundaySenior police officers have accused ministers of manipulating a consultationexercise on introducing a single force. Daily telegraph, Times, Daily mail 7 MarchThe Scottish Government is facing calls to publish details of the cost of setting upa single police force. Comments made in Parliament by Tavish Scott MSPScotsman, P&J 25 FebNorthern Police officers have voted against the idea of a single national force forScotland. Daily Express, Scotsman, P&J 16 FebThe Chief Constable of Strathclyde, Scotland‘s largest police force, backed plansfor a single national unit as the right solution to tackle crime . Sunday Express,News of the World, Scotland on Sunday, Sunday mail, Sunday postMinisters have demanded that plans for new headquarters for Strathclyde policeforce be shelved while the future structure of Scottish policing remains uncertain.Herald 25 Feb. A new Strathclyde Police HQ will be built on the banks of theClyde despite government ministers wanting to put the £40m project on hold.Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has urged police forces to consider the costeffectiveness of long-term investment plans ahead of possible major reforms.Courier 26 Feb, Evening TimesThe Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland published a report containing newminimum standards for police forces when dealing with complaints against them. TheHolding to Account report ―follows an audit by the PCCS that looked at how policeboards hold Chief Constables to account in terms of recording and monitoringcomplaints.‖ Herald 7 MarchStrathclyde, Lothian & Borders: Scotland's two biggest police forces have beencriticised for "deficiencies and failings" over their failure to respond quickly enough to999 calls. Daily Express, Herald, Scotsman 14 FebThe SNP failed to meet a pledge to put a thousand extra police officers on Scotland'sstreets during its term in office, official figures suggested yesterday. Daily Telegraph,Sun, Herald, Scotsman, 2 MarchIndividual councilsBelow is a limited selection of some other issues being covered in relation to individualcouncils:Audit Scotland/ HMIE Moray best value work: A councillor said Audit Scotland isinterfering in political decisions and tarring all councillors with the same brush.During discussion in the chamber there was a show of hands on who had beeninterviewed by auditors. Council agreed to do more on training, and to follow upother recommended actions. Northern ScotThere are fears that Moray Council could be plunging into a 40-year debt to payfor a flood scheme with only paper promises of joint funding from the ScottishGovernment.‖ The Scottish Government has pledged a contribution of £55.6 tothe project while Moray council needs to pay the remainder of the costs and payback £2m a year for the next 40 years. P&J 12 Feb4
Aberdeenshire: Archaeolink history centre is to close. The council leader andanother councillor have been acting as trustees for the past five years. They tookthis route as it was cheaper for the council to keep running the centre via a trustrather than close it down – grant aid of £2.5m would have had to be repaid. Thecouncil managed to cut costs and increase visitor numbers, but not enough tomake it value for money. P&J and other coverage using quotes from AuditScotland‘s 06/07 annual audit report.22 Feb―There was shock among Shetland councillors this week when it was revealedjust how much it is costing the SIC to get its finances in order. The auditing ofShetland Islands council's accounts is costing the local authority around quarterof a million pounds per year. According to Audit Scotland that is as high as itpossibly could be and is a result of the huge amount of work its staff have had toput in to help bring the SIC's finances and annual budgets up to date.‖ BBCRadio Shetland, 22 FebShetland Councillors will meet on Monday 7 March to decide the new decisionmaking structure. P&J & BBC/ BBC Radio ShetlandShetland: Cllrs Sandy Cluness and Josie Simpson cleared by the StandardsCommission over the Oct 2009 complaint they made against Cllr Jonathan Wills.Wills wrote to them to acknowledge the verdict and said ――I‘m sure we can alldraw lessons from this unpleasant episode and share the hope that nothing like itever happens again in our council.‖ Shetland NewsHead of Finance Services at Shetland Islands Council Graham Johnston hasbeen granted early retirement and will complete his last day with the Council on31st March. His department came under criticism over the past few years fromthe council‘s outside auditors Audit Scotland, who expressed increasingfrustration at the refusal to group the council‘s accounts with those of ShetlandCharitable Trust. He said someone else should take on the role of trying toconvince Audit Scotland and the Accounts Commission. Shetland NewsInverclyde: the leader is stepping down, for personal reasons. He says this isnot connected with the suspension of four senior officials after the collapse of thecouncil's Future Operating Model. Herald 15 Feb. ―Labour councillors last nightunanimously elected Iain McKenzie as their new leader on Inverclyde Council.He will now also be their candidate in the upcoming battle to be the man at thehelm of the local authority. Greenock Telegraph 17 FebWestern Isles Council reiterated its support for a single authority delivering allpublic services in the islands. P&J 28 Feb. The Western Isles health board hasmade it clear to the Islands Council that it doesn‘t share its vision of a singleauthority delivering all public services in the Islands. BBC Radio InvernessWestern Isles, Orkney and Shetland councils have joined forces to avert thethreat of public sector jobs being moved to the mainland‖ They are looking atalternative ways of providing services and have commissioned the Centre forScottish Public Policy to look at models. They hope to be able to put forward itsown suggestions, ahead of the Scottish Government‘s anticipated reforms.Functions of HIE could also be included. They are also exploring integratingsome functions of VisitScotland and Scottish Water, and considering how tomaintain a police presence. P&J 21 FebA Stornoway-based haulage firm has been offered a hefty compensationpackage from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, following what is understood to befaults during a recent competitive tendering process. West Highland Free PressNorth Lanarkshire Council is hoping the Scottish Government will approve £73million of Tax Incremental Funding to allow the Ravenscraig project to go ahead.Over £100 million has already been spent on the site. Wishaw press, BBC5
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The Accounts Commission for Scotlan
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Minutes of the meeting of the Accou
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7. Update report by the Controller
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Following discussion, the Commissio
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1. ApologiesApologies were received
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AGENDA ITEM 7Paper: AC.2011.3.3ACCO
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15. As part of the debate on the 20
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8. The Cabinet Secretary has welcom
Page 33 and 34: authority accounts. This serves to
Page 36 and 37: 6. The Commission is invited to—N
Page 40 and 41: Appendix 3Procedures for a hearing
Page 42 and 43: Appendix 4A ‘special’ report by
Page 44 and 45: Appendix 5The Commission’s consid
Page 46 and 47: so at a meeting of the authority wi
Page 48 and 49: Appendix 6Procedures for a hearing
Page 50 and 51: AGENDA ITEM 11Paper: AC.2011.3.9COD
Page 52 and 53: ForewordThe Code of Audit Practice
Page 54 and 55: Public bodies7. Those responsible f
Page 56 and 57: 20. Matters arising from local gove
Page 58 and 59: Audit work does not replace the nee
Page 60 and 61: have regard to any national priorit
Page 62 and 63: 39. Auditors are required to carry
Page 64 and 65: Systems of internal controlStatemen
Page 66 and 67: esponses to developments which may
Page 68 and 69: work assigned to them in line with
Page 70 and 71: odies to manage contact appropriate
Page 72 and 73: 110. Exceptionally, Audit Scotland
Page 74 and 75: Appendix 1Auditors’ statutory dut
Page 76 and 77: Appendix 2Public rights of inspecti
Page 78 and 79: Appendix 4Glossary of termsAuditWor
Page 80 and 81: Statement on internal controlDepend
Page 82 and 83: Maintaining Scotland’s RoadsThis
Page 86 and 87: Proposal to move fortnightly-paid c
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17 March 2011 - Audit Scotland

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