The Council has responded to the findings made by the Accounts Commission following their consideration of Audit Scotland’s Best Value Assurance Report for East Dunbartonshire, which is published today (Wednesday 29 September). 
Joint Council Leader Vaughan Moody said, “The Council welcomes this Best Value report and is pleased that it reflects positively on the pace at which progress has been made here in East Dunbartonshire since the last such report back in 2017.
“We are particularly pleased to see that the report references our leadership, performance management, partnership working and high levels of customer satisfaction as areas of strength for the Council. There is also reference to our Education service and its great performance including in areas of highest deprivation. This is recognition for the great work of our Council teams - both on the frontline and the back office - do to deliver services in this area.”
Set within the context of COVID-19, the Best Value Report highlights that the Council reacted well to the immediate and ongoing challenges of the pandemic - with governance, staffing and digital arrangements being adapted quickly to support the local and national response being recognised.
Joint Council Leader Andrew Polson added, “Despite the COVID-19 challenges of the past 18 months, which continue to impact service delivery, we are delighted that this Best Value Report recognises that areas such as workforce planning and financial management are effective and very much focused on our Council priorities. This provides us with a strong base to steer the Council through COVID-19 recovery and review our priorities for the months and years ahead."
In addition to recognising areas of achievement, the Commission confirmed their agreement with the Council’s identified areas for improvement, including inequality, housing, community planning, and health and care services.
Councillor Polson continued, “This Best Value report acknowledges that we have made good progress and also that we know where we need to improve further. We are aware of the issues we face, not least from our aging population. Our ongoing challenge is in balancing our aspirations to deliver further service improvements with emerging new priorities all within the finite resources available to us.”
Following publication of this Best Value Report, it will be presented to Council at its 4 November meeting, with an action plan which is currently being prepared, to enable councillors to consider and approve the Report.
For further information, visit the Audit Scotland website.
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