Council commended by Accounts Commission

Dundee City Council has been commended for its performance by the Accounts Commission.

The Commission published its findings today on the Controller of Audit’s 2023 Statutory Report on Best Value.

Endorsing the report, the Commission noted that all of the recommendations made following an earlier Best Value Assurance Report in September 2020 had been implemented.

Other key findings by the Commission include:

• Effective leadership provided by officers and elected members is an area of strength for the Council. The Commission noted clarity and coherence of the Council’s vision and planning, its alignment of resources with priorities, and its fair and balanced public performance reporting.
• A commitment to community empowerment and engagement comes through strongly in the Council Plan and in the evidence of how this is being delivered in practice.
• Financial management and planning is sound. Challenges remain around delivery of the capital programme but this is also showing signs of progress.
• The Council has a commitment to continuous improvement, and the Commission encouraged elected members and officers to share their approach to this with other councils.

Chief Executive Greg Colgan said: “These findings are welcome recognition of our efforts to continue to deliver for the communities we serve, and are testament to the hard work and commitment of our Council employees.

“I’m particularly heartened by the praise for our commitment to community empowerment and engagement, and also by the endorsement of our good financial management and planning – something that is more important now than ever with the economic climate we find ourselves in.

“Ultimately, this independent assessment and scrutiny should give people who live and work in the city confidence that their local authority is well led, delivering quality services and providing Best Value.”

The Commission recognised that there are high levels of deprivation and child poverty in Dundee, and long-standing challenges around educational attainment and drug deaths.

It noted: “The Commission is assured that the Council is taking action in response to these issues, as in other areas of policy.”

Council leader Councillor John Alexander said: “These positive findings by the Accounts Commission are a strong validation of the excellent work that’s being carried out by the council in a number of areas.

“We know that there are some areas where more needs to be done to improve the lives of people in the city, and we are working hard with our partners to deliver that change.

“Despite the challenges of the past few years, and the difficult financial road that lies ahead, our bold ambitions for a smarter, fairer, more vibrant and attractive Dundee are undiminished.”

A report on the Accounts Commission findings will be considered by elected members at a later date.

More information can be found on the Audit Scotland website.

The Controller of Audit's report to the Accounts Commission on Best Value in Dundee City Council can be found on the Council website, along with the 2022/23 Annual Audit report.

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