Following the January 2007 Best Value report on West Dunbartonshire Council, the Council provided an update on its progress in a position statement.
View the Position Statement as submitted to Audit Scotland on 7th August along with the Improvment Plan, Appendix 1.
Following this review, the Council has now received the Progress Report produced by Audit Scotland. This contains the findings from the follow up visit which was undertaken in August 2007.
West Dunbartonshire Council is fully committed to addressing the priorities outlined in the initial report and is making significant progress in a number of key areas against the backdrop of Single Status, Scottish & local Elections and political change. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of our improvement plans, to ensure we are delivering Best Value for our workforce and the people of West Dunbartonshire.
Whilst we accept that progress would ideally have been quicker in some areas, we are committed to a holistic approach that will allow us to set solid foundations as a basis for sustained cultural change. We are very proud of the work that is already being undertaken and can demonstrate improved partnership working across Authority boundaries and across the organisation between management and staff and members and officers.
A major recruitment exercise is now complete and we are delighted to announce the appointment of three new Executive Directors to the Corporate Management Team to support the Chief Executive's commitment to Best Value. The new team is now in post (from January 2008) and will continue to drive forward the council's improvement activity.
The council is pleased that the interim progress report recognises the early start made in addressing improvement priorities. A number of external consultants were appointed to deliver key areas of work quickly and objectively. This included the Staff Survey, a Dignity at Work Review, and a review of Member/Officer Relations. Many of the findings have now been reported to Council and over the coming months, a series of actions will be implemented to ensure that we are improving moral and addressing the issues that impede performance. Additionally, 12 new posts have been created to help address capacity issues and to deliver the actions required over the coming months.
The council fully acknowledges the long term nature of cultural change and reaffirms its commitment to embedding a constructive and positive culture throughout the organisation and to delivering first-class services to local people. We look forward to sharing our plans with the citizens of West Dunbartonshire and with our staff in the coming months and demonstrating further progress in 2008.
The Accounts Commissions findings were received on 22nd January 2008.
A report will be presented to Council on February 2008.
Contact the policy.unit@west-dunbarton.gov.uk for more information.
