Accounts Commission

East Lothian Council must enact significant reforms to its public services as it contends with the dual pressures of rapidly growing younger and older populations and a looming £46 million budget shortfall, the Accounts Commission has warned.

Scotland’s communities are facing a growing disconnect between what they expect from public services and what local authorities can realistically deliver, as the financial strain on councils intensifies, a new report has concluded.

An ambitious plan to improve transport, roads and buildings, as well as a greater shift to using digital to deliver services, has the potential to transform the Highland Council’s services over the next 20 years. Delivering its capital programme could prove challenging. Borrowing costs are hig

Argyll and Bute Council has a real opportunity to harness a long-standing culture of innovation as it looks to close a funding gap of nearly £29 million, rethink how services are delivered and ensure it has a stable workforce, the Accounts Commission said today.

Community health and social care finances are increasingly precarious and Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) must urgently work with their partners in the NHS and councils to reform how they deliver services to achieve financial sustainability, according to a new report from the Accounts Commission. Th

Fife Council, having previously maintained services without major cuts, now faces a critical juncture, as a recent Accounts Commission report has highlighted a mixed performance, with deepening inequalities and deteriorating social care. The council's significant health and social care overspends ar

With high performing services, excellent engagement with local communities and strong relationships with key partners, East Renfrewshire Council is an exemplar to others. In a new report, the Accounts Commission says there is a real focus on targeting the needs of local people, using data to gain a

Scotland's local authorities are grappling with significant financial strain, necessitating urgent transformation to ensure sustainability, the Accounts Commission has revealed. While councils managed to bridge a £759 million budget deficit in 2023/24, this required deeper cuts and reliance on

The Accounts Commission has commended Scottish Borders Council for its continuously improving and forward-thinking approach to making savings and tackling recruitment challenges.

The Accounts Commission has called on the City of Edinburgh Council to continue to engage with and act on the views of its residents and communities as it considers options to make the significant savings needed.

Councils and key partners must significantly increase the pace and scale of major changes if they are to protect vital public services, a new report from the Accounts Commission has concluded.

Clackmannanshire Council has demonstrated continuous improvement on key areas over the last five years but must now urgently address its financial situation, the local authority watchdog has concluded.

Audit Scotland and the Accounts Commission have called on all public bodies to deliver on their responsibilities to ensure everyone can access the services they need as more key services move online.

Malcolm Bell, member of the Accounts Commission, discusses the challenges facing local councils in Scotland, including financial pressures, increasing demand, and the need for transformation in service delivery, and how they can be addressed through effective leadership, collaboration, and community

As Scotland's councils are increasingly faced with tough budget decisions, the role of the chief financial officer (CFO) is critical in ensuring financial sustainability and stability in local government, writes Jo Armstrong – chair of Audit Scotland's Accounts Commission. Our Spring budget br