Edinburgh Best Value follow up – podcast transcript 
I’m here with Douglas Sinclair, chair of the Accounts Commission for Scotland, to talk about a new report on the City of Edinburgh Council. This report is a follow up to a best value audit carried out in May last year.
Douglas, can you tell me a little bit more about it…
Yes. We published a Best Value audit on the City of Edinburgh Council highlighting the challenges it was facing then. The Commission said the council had to make achieving its savings an absolute priority. So this is a follow up report to see what progress has been made since then.
So what are the main findings?
Well, there has been some progress but there is still an awful lot to do. The council was faced with additional savings of £17 million by 2017/18. That figure has now risen to £67 million – so a further £50 million. And these are additional savings and they have to come on top of savings already identified.

How does this affect the public?

Like all residents, the people of Edinburgh rely on the key services provided by the council so obviously it means a lot to them, particularly when money is really tight and the council has to balance its budget.

The council has aims to achieve much of the savings through a transformation programme called BOLD. But this has yet to be confirmed and it is too early to assess its impact. And at the same time, we know that demand for services will rise such as looking after an increasingly elderly population.

In what areas has the council improved?

Well, to give one example, it has developed its scrutiny and risk management procedures. And we welcome that. There has also been progress in its commitment to openness and transparency and engaging with its staff. All that is good and in fairness the council has had to deal with a succession of long- running and high profile issues.

So what to you want to see happen next?

Well, the council has still to develop a comprehensive workforce strategy which the Commission recommended last year. That is fundamental to the council in going forward in identifying skill shortages and skill needs. So that is critically important.

We have asked for another report in 12 months and expect to solid improvements by then.

Douglas, thank you very much.