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Scrutiny and Audit

What is the Scrutiny and Audit Committee?

The Scrutiny and Audit Committee is a central Committee of Aberdeenshire Council. 

Who are the Scrutiny and Audit Committee?

The Scrutiny and Audit Committee is made up of 12 Councillors, working in a non-political, cross party way. The Committee is currently Chaired by Councillor Peter Bellarby, with Councillor Andy Ritchie as the Vice-Chair. Other members are Councillors Mandy Allan, Alan Buchan, Nan Cullinane, Sandy Duncan, Tom Fleming, Ian Gray, Gillian Owen, Mike Sullivan, Robert Thomas and Michael Watt.

What we do

The Committee reviews the performance of the Council, looking at the effectiveness of Council policies and Service delivery and identifies any potential improvements.

Part of the Committee’s work involves carrying out an annual programme of reviews or investigations into aspects of the Council’s policy implementation and service delivery.  In order to carry out its work successfully, the Committee needs to seek information from Councillors, Council employees, external witnesses and services users.

The Committee has adopted the following principles of operation:-

Open, Transparent, Investigative, Deliberative, Evidence-based, Accountable, Responsive, Inclusive, Influencing, Flexible, Proactive, Non-partisan and Outward Looking.

The Committee has formal audit responsibilities which include:

  • Reviewing financial statements and compliance with relevant codes of practice
  • Reviewing the activities of Internal Audit including its annual work programme
  • Managing all aspects of the Council's relationship with the External Auditors
  • Reviewing internal control systems and risk assessment procedures.

What we do not do

The Committee does not make policy and does not take decisions about the operation of Council Services, but it may make recommendations to Council on policy matters.

Contact
committee.services@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Committee Dates

View the Scrutiny and Audit Committee Dates

Work Programme, 2007/08

The Committee's first investigation, into Duplicated Effort and Expenditure in Council-funded Organisations has been concluded and will be reported, together with an action plan response prepared by the Council's Management Team, to the meeting of Council to be held on 26 June, 2008.

The second investigation, Audit of Leisure Facilities and Equity of Provision, is currently underway.

The Review of Education, Learning and Leisure Capital Plan, originally intended to be the third topic for investigation, will not now take place.

The Committee requested, after consideration of potential topics for investigation, reports on the following areas of operation

  • Planning Gain
  • Winter Maintenance (Priority 3 Roads)
  • Policy Led Budgeting
  • Standardisation of Public Holidays
  • Vehicle and Plant Replacement
  • Caravan Parks
  • Consultants
  • Use of Agency Staff.

These reports have been received and form part of the agendae for the formal meetings of the Committee, and will be available, online, at Aberdeenshire Council - Committees and Meetings - Scrutiny and Audit Committee

Programme of Work, 2008/09

For 2008/09, three investigations were identified at the Committee's meeting on 15 May, 2008:-

  • Policy-led Budgeting
  • PPP/PPF facilities – their use and associated issues
  • Social Work & Housing – whether the Council could supply more services like care homes and homecare in-house rather than outsource (currently 53%).

The third investigation originally scheduled to take place in 2007/08, the Review of Education, Learning and Leisure Capital Plan has been dropped from the work programme.

In addition, the Committee has agreed to seek reports on the following topics:

  • School Transport
  • Minute Taking
  • School Rolls
  • Contact Centre
  • Built Heritage
  • Libraries
  • Cost of Building and Property Service Contracts

Investigation Reports to date

Further Information