Scottish financial watchdog warns of tensions between councillors and officers
The Accounts Commission for Scotland has issued a report on effective working relationships amid concerns that financial pressures could put strain on relations between councillors and officers.
The watchdog acknowledged that councils in Scotland have taken action to improve understanding of roles and responsibilities, and the processes and systems that underpin good governance.
The publication – which includes checklists, examples and other information – covers a range of themes, including:
- Councillor and officer roles and responsibilities
- Governance arrangements
- The role of statutory officers
- Councillors’ role on external bodies, and
- Action points.
The Accounts Commission said key aspects of good leadership and governance are “good working relationships, clearly understood political and managerial structures, professional and constructive relationships between councillors and officers, a shared commitment to council priorities and constructive debate leading to clear decision making”.
The report, Roles and working relationships: are you getting it right?, highlighted the fact that most councils work in political coalition and all have multi-member wards.
“In those councils where relationships are already strained, the financial pressures could make matters worse,” it said. “Difficult financial decisions come at a time of heightened political activity, with local and national elections in the next two years. This may lead to increased political tensions between individual councillors and across political groups, making it more difficult to maintain good working relationships.”
The Accounts Commission said that in the most serious cases of poor performance among Scottish councils, “problems include heightened political tensions among councillors and a lack of trust and mutual respect among councillors and between councillors and officers, which affected their ability to work together”.
John Baillie, chairman of the Accounts Commission, said: “Councillors and officers are at the heart of local government policy and delivery and how they work together is fundamental to success.
“Councils are rising to the challenge and working hard to keep delivering quality services that meet people’s needs, despite reduced funding and other pressures. As they face increasingly difficult choices it is vital that they have good working arrangements and relationships in place to support their activity.”
Baillie added that it was essential for councils to ensure they keep their working practices and arrangements under regular review, and take action on any areas for improvement.
To read the report, click here.
The Accounts Commission’s next report will be on key issues for councils to consider when delivering services through arm’s length and external organisations.
