Accounts Commission

Addressing the issue of longer-term financial certainty for councils is vital for the Scottish Government to ensure services are maintained and that councils can tackle the multiple challenges ahead, the Accounts Commission said today.

Covid-19 will drive large rises in costs and spending combined with falling income for Scotland's local authorities, according to an overview of local government finances published today by the Accounts Commission. Despite an increase of funding received by councils of £500 million in 2019/20,

Over the last four years many services provided by the City of Edinburgh Council have improved, its finances have been well-managed and ambitious strategies to improve the lives of local people and the economy have been agreed.

Aberdeenshire Council continues to deliver many services to a good standard but needs to be clearer about what it wants to achieve and increase its focus on deprived neighbourhoods, according to the Accounts Commission. In a report published today, the watchdog said council officers and councillors

Dundee City Council must quicken progress to address complex and deep-rooted problems such as poverty, inequality and drug-related deaths, according to the Accounts Commission.

Services in Moray Council are continuing to deteriorate, in particular within education, according to a new report from the Accounts Commission. 

North Ayrshire Council is delivering value-for-money services to its local communities and has demonstrated a culture of continuous improvement since 2011, according to the public spending watchdog for local government.

Highland Council must make significant savings and change the way it delivers services to ensure it can live within its financial means, according to a report by the Accounts Commission. Published today, the report said that in recent years the council has had a poor record of delivering on savings.

City deals have been positive for Scotland's economy but the Scottish Government does not have a plan to measure their overall long-term success, according to a report by the Accounts Commission and Audit Scotland. The public spending watchdogs said city region and growth deals have enabled economic

Most of Scotland’s 32 councils are increasingly relying on money from reserves to keep up with demand for services and balance their budgets, with financial pressures likely to get worse, according to the Accounts Commission. A report today from the local government watchdog found that while d

Scottish Borders Council has made “steady progress” as it continues to transform the way it delivers services but a “clear plan” is required to enable the local authority to deliver its ambitious programme of transformation. The programme, called Fit for 2024, aims to improve

Robust financial planning has put Perth and Kinross Council in a good position to tackle a projected budget shortfall of £52 million over the next five years but it must continue to drive forward improvements, the Accounts Commission said today.

The Accounts Commission and the Auditor General are to undertake an audit into the provision of affordable housing in Scotland.

Midlothian Council needs to deal with a “significant budget shortfall” as it faces further pressures as Scotland’s fastest-growing council, the local government public spending watchdog has said. In a report out today, the Accounts Commission said the council urgently needs a mediu

Clackmannanshire Council has “laid the foundations for improvement” but “serious challenges” remain for the local authority, according to the Accounts Commission.