Moray Council failing to make sufficient progress bridging £31 million budget gap according to new report
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MORAY Council has been told it must transform how it works if it is to successfully address a budget gap of over £31 million.
In a report published last week, the Accounts Commission said that plans to transform how the local authority works and delivers services must be accelerated and be more ambitious.
The commission says that Moray Council has been told in repeated reviews over 18 years that improvements have not been made fast enough.
It added that the council’s modernisation plans must set out clear targets, deadlines and lines of responsibility and that unless this happens the council will fail to bridge its budget gap.
The commission also said it is “extremely concerned” the council is relying on as-yet unidentified savings and the unsustainable use of financial reserves.
Last month, Moray Council said that a £19.2 million shortfall in finances will be met by its own reserves after the local authority agreed its annual budget.
Jo Armstrong, chair of the Accounts Commission, said: “It is nearly 20 years since we first published a Best Value report on Moray Council and progress on plans to transform how it works and delivers services has been frustratingly slow.
“This has limited the council’s ability to make vital financial savings, ensure strong financial management and produce accurate financial forecasts.
“Relying on money from reserves and one-off savings is simply unsustainable.
“Recent action to bring in external support is welcome, but we have real concerns the council won’t be able to attract and retain enough senior staff, with the right skills, to deliver on the transformation that’s required.
“Moray Council must take note of the Accounts Commission’s findings which are there to support the council to make the improvements necessary.”
The report adds that the local authority intends to produce a combined action plan setting out how it will address the issues highlighted by the commission.
This includes bringing in external support to help improve collaborative working across political parties.
Moray Council says that the report and its recommendations will be considered at a future full council meeting at a date to be confirmed.
Councillor Kathleen Robertson, Moray Council leader, said: “While it makes for some difficult reading, the council welcomes the report and commission findings, which acknowledges the work already undertaken in areas such as cross-party working and improved directional leadership.”
She added: “Clearly there’s more work to be done to ensure we continue to improve at pace and meet the aspirations we’ve set ourselves, as well as monitoring best value.
“But I believe the show of unity from my fellow group leaders who attended the commission meeting together highlights our intention to do that by working together.”
