| Comhairle Can Build On Strengths of Vision and Leadership Say Accounts Commission | 16 August 2006 |
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The Accounts Commission has published its Best Value report on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The reportt highlights a number of advantages and strengths on which the Comhairle can build and also areas where the Commission feels the Comhairle must improve. The Comhairle notes the publication of this report and findings and will take time to study in detail the contents. Where appropriate, information from the report will be used as a management tool as part of the authority’s ongoing commitment to improve processes and service delivery to the public. The required improvements identified in the report refer mainly to internal processes, most of which were acknowledged by the Comhairle in its own submission to the Best Value Auditors. Whilst accepting that there is always room for improvement it should be noted that already many of these issues are being addressed through the Chief Executive’s Review of Organisational Structures and Service Delivery, and the forthcoming Review of Committees. Improvements have also been made in Best Value and performance management processes such as the risk management strategy, the Annual Performance Report, Corporate Strategy priorities, Linux (a task tracking system) a revised Complaints Procedure, a revised Best Value Toolkit and the appointment of a Customer Service Manager. It is also worth noting that in the main, these are internal management mechanisms which have little impact on direct service delivery for the general public. Chief Executive Malcolm Burr added: “I welcome the fact that the Accounts Commission recognises the particular difficulties faced by us as an island authority and that they have identified significant strengths that the Comhairle can build on. Most notably these include leadership by active and committed elected members, an ambitious vision for the Western Isles, effective financial stewardship and a strategic approach to capital planning. These strengths are the basis of the good quality services provided to the people of the Western Isles. The Comhairle must always seek to strike the right balance between spending its limited resources on improving services to the public and internal management processes. Ultimately it is by the provision of good quality services to the community and good use of our resources by which we should be judged”. The Comhairle will consider the report and the findings at a meeting on 12th October. Nigel Scott Tel: 01851 709389 (Work) |
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