Audit Scotland issues damning report about Argyll + Bute budget process

The MSP for Argyll & Bute, Michael Russell, has called on the Scottish Government to take action after a report from Audit Scotland found severe flaws in the setting of the budget by Argyll & Bute Council in February - a budget that slashed expenditure on education and other vital services despite public opposition - and claimed that the process the Council adopted “limited the ability of elected members and the public to raise informed questions” failed to be transparent and “promote and demonstrate scrutiny of the options” and did not give local council tax payers any “evidence of the …endorsement of the budget by the Chief Financial Officer” of the Council. Commenting on the report Mr Russell said: “I made a complaint to Audit Scotland after the budget process and others did so too. Now their damning report indicates that the budget that was passed was neither transparent nor able to be properly scrutinised. It also failed to demonstrate whether or not it was legitimate in terms of approval by the Council’s Chief Financial Officer. These are very serious shortcomings particularly as the budget was very controversial and included redundancies and reductions in some very important areas including school staffing and libraries. Given all the other issues surrounding the Council external intervention - if a means can be found - is certainly required. I have tabled a motion to that effect in the Scottish Parliament and I will press the issue with Scottish Ministers. Public confidence in the Council is at an all time low and the present situation cannot be allowed to continue any longer."