Following the findings of last year’s Best Value Audit, published in February 2007, the Council has now received the Progress Report produced by Audit Scotland, which now contains details of the Accounts Commission’s findings . This Report lists the findings from the follow up visit which was undertaken in August this year.
West Dunbartonshire Council are pleased and encouraged that the Report recognises our increased commitment to continuous improvement and the progress we have made within a short timescale. It is testament to the hard work and commitment of all staff that the Accounts Commission have recommended a period of eighteen months before a further report is required.
The Council is fully committed to addressing the priorities outlined in the 2007 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 will continue to monitor the effectiveness of our improvement plans, in consultation with our members and staff, 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 and more focused in some areas, we have been committed to setting 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.
With a new Corporate Management Team in post from the end of January 2008 and the appointment of 12 new posts to help address capacity issues and to deliver the actions required over the coming months, we can now focus our efforts on priority areas. A review of Member Officer Relations – one of the key priority areas outlined by Audit Scotland, is well underway. Additionally work has started on Leadership Development & Management Development, with programs due to commence in April.
Since the publication of the report, there have already been a number of improvements recognised by Audit Scotland. They identified that the Council has already:
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broadly accepted the need for change, improved strategic leadership and developed an improvement plan which reflect the findings and recommendations of the Commission
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started to increase openness and inclusiveness
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reviewed political and managerial structures and established new structures
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agreed and adopted a revised Community Plan along with its community planning partners
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made use of external support to take forward its approach to improvement.
The council is currently installing a new Performance Management System, has completed the recruitment of key staff to improve it's strategic capacity and completed the first phase of Elected Member Training. The fact that Audit Scotland now feels that we have made sufficient progress to mean that West Dunbartonshire Council will not be reviewed again for another 18 months is another indicator of the positive progress made to date.
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 staff in the coming months and demonstrating further significant progress in 2008.
