I’m here with Douglas Sinclair, chair of the Accounts Commission, to talk about a best value report on South Ayrshire Council.  Douglas, can you tell me what this report is about?
Yes, the report looks at how South Ayrshire is meeting is obligations for  Best Value. What’s best value? It means a council making continuous improvement in the way it operates. 
What did you find?
Well, the Commission is seriously concerned at the lack of progress in the council in meeting a number of its best value duties. For example, there are significant  weaknesses in strategic direction, in leadership, in performance management and scrutiny.  Nor has the council addressed recommendations from previous Accounts Commission reports way back in 2009 and 2010. 
So what does this mean to the public?
Well, for example, the council hasn’t had a corporate plan for the last 18 months.  That  means there is no clear statement of its priorities for services and improvement.  And obviously in the longer term, that is really important for the people of South Ayrshire who rely on all these key services. Quite simply, every council needs a plan. Because that’s  how it can set out how it will address national issues like health and social integration alongside their local priorities.
So what do you want to see happen next?
In fairness to the council, there have been recent signs that it is beginning to address issues facing it. For example, it is due to agree a new corporate plan next month. And we also recognise there are no significant concerns about the current performance of council services 
But - and it is a very big but - the council urgently  needs fundamentally to improve in the way it operates. Otherwise the weaknesses identified are likely to have a negative longer term impact on council services for people and communities in South Ayrshire as well as affecting the public’s confidence in the council.
We are expecting progress to be made as a matter of urgency. It needs strong strategic leadership from councillors and effective day to day leadership from senior managers. 
Because of our concerns we’ve requested a follow up report by December this year to measure progress.
Douglas, thank you very much.