Agenda item

Consider the local scrutiny plan by Audit Scotland which sets out the planned scrutiny activity in Scottish Borders Council during 2017/18. The plan is based on a shared risk assessment undertaken by a local area network, comprising representatives of all of the main scrutiny bodies who engage with the Council. The National Scrutiny Plan for 2017/18 and Map also published in May 2017 provide the national context of planned scrutiny. (Copies attached)

3.1       With reference to paragraph 3 of the Minute of 9 May 2016, there had been circulated copies of a report by Audit Scotland setting out its Local Scrutiny Plan 2017/18 for Scottish Borders Council.  The Plan was based on a shared risk assessment undertaken by a Local Area Network (LAN) comprising representatives of all the scrutiny bodies that engaged with the Council.  This shared risk assessment process drew on a range of evidence with the aim of determining any scrutiny activity required and then focusing this in the most appropriate way.  The report only identified risks within the Council which had been identified by the LAN where scrutiny was required or where scrutiny was planned as part of a national programme.  Planned scrutiny activity informed the National Scrutiny Plan for 2017/18.  This had also been circulated for information and was available on the Audit Scotland website.

3.2       The report indicated that there was no specific additional scrutiny work required within Education beyond ongoing inspection and support activity provided to the Council by Education Scotland.  With regard to Housing and Homelessness, the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) had reviewed the performance of all Scottish Social Landlords in March 2016 and some recommendations were made in relation to repeat recording and closure of cases.  Scottish Borders Council had acted on these recommendations and was now implementing its improvement plan for the service generally, with some actions being carried forward to 2017/18.  In addition, the Council was reviewing the management arrangements for its gypsy/traveller site to ensure that the requirements of the Scottish Social Housing Charter were met.  Under Social Care, the Integration Joint Board (IJB) had been established in February 2016 to assume delegated authority for the provision of health and social care services in the area.  Governance arrangements were in place and the IJB’s strategic plan outlined the work of the partnership and the way in which services would develop over the next three to five years.  Further arrangements were in place to progress locality planning.  A joint inspection of Children’s Services was published in June 2016 and of the nine quality indicators assessed, one was evaluated as “very good”, four as “good” and the remaining four as “adequate”.  SB Cares was also assessed during 2015/16 and evaluations of “adequate” and “good” were awarded.  The final joint inspection report on Older People’s Services was due to be published later in 2017.  Audit Scotland would continue to monitor the effectiveness of the ICT arrangements established in October 2016 under the Digital Transformation Programme and would comment in its Annual Audit Report.  Mr Haseeb advised that following a review by the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Strategic Board of its governance arrangements, it had been agreed that a CPP Consultative Group be established to develop the strategic direction of the Partnership, with the Strategic Board remaining as the decision-making group for the CPP.  A review of these arrangements would be undertaken after 18 months and in the meantime, work continued to develop locality plans the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan as required under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.  Audit Scotland would continue to monitor progress during the year.

3.3       Mr Haseeb explained that a new approach to auditing Best Value had been agreed by the Accounts Commission in June 2016.  Best Value would now be assessed over the five year audit appointment and a Best Value Assurance Report would be considered by the Accounts Commission at least once during this time.  Appendix 1 to the report detailed the scrutiny activity planned for 2017/18 and was available on the Audit Scotland website.

DECISION

NOTED the report.