A good performance from East Ayrshire Council and it is well placed for further improvement

Services in East Ayrshire are performing well overall and partnership
working within the council area is highly effective. However, improvement is
still needed in some important areas.

The findings follow the Accounts Commission’s consideration of the Best
Value 2 pathfinder audit report compiled by Audit Scotland. East Ayrshire
Council is one of five local authorities that are part of the pathfinder process
and this is the second pathfinder report to be published.

The Commission found that the council and its partners are aware of the
needs of local people, allowing them to develop clear plans for the area.
Performance measures show that services are generally performing well and
there has been an increase in public satisfaction with some services such as
libraries, primary schools and local council offices.

However, improvement is needed in some important areas, including
aspects of social services and planning and performance on some outcome
indicators in areas like economic regeneration and health are below the
national average. There has also been a drop in public satisfaction with the
quality of some services, such as repairs to roads, paths and cycle paths,
street cleaning and refuse collection. The council is aware of these issues and
has plans in place to make progress.

Chair of the Accounts Commission, John Baillie, said:

“The council has shown that it is prepared to meet
the challenge of sustaining improvement. The Commission particularly
welcomes the council’s commitment to self-evaluation and the way it
identifies and plans for improvement. It has a track record of delivering
improvement and continues to address areas where development is
needed.”

The council’s chief executive provides strong and effective leadership
and there are good relationships between elected members and officers.

John Baillie continued:

“Elected members have a sound understanding of their
communities. They need, however, to keep developing their skills so they can
provide strong strategic leadership, and challenge and hold officers to
account.