THE same concerns arise again and again across Scotland’s public sector, according to a parliamentary report by MSPs on Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee (PAC).
Only “small-scale” changes can be identified over the last eight years as public bodies struggle to adapt to changing demand and a significant cultural shift that not only requires different ways of working but also new lines of accountability.
At the same time, the PAC acknowledges there is rightly a greater focus on involving members of the public, service users and communities in the design, development and delivery of the services that affect them.
The main recurring thematic issues to emerge from the PAC’s scrutiny are:
- Leadership and workforce challenges.
- Governance and accountability.
- Data collection and evaluating outcomes.
- Managing major IT projects and structural changes.
While members of the PAC recognised that some issues reported by the Auditor General have been down to a specific set of circumstances within public sector organisations, in other cases it was clear that issues being raised have systematic challenges at their root and are not unique to any particular sector, public body or type of project.
Committee members want to see cross-sector, collaborative and long-term solutions, stating: “Quite simply, a siloed approach to these significant challenges will not succeed.”
Committee convener Jenny Marra MSP said: “The Public Audit Committee is in a unique position to provide an overarching perspective on the key issues which are affecting public services across Scotland and the impact that these are having on the way public funds are being spent.
“In this session of Parliament, the committee has looked at 50 reports and we have become increasingly frustrated to see the same issues arise again and again.
“Unless the Scottish Government and other public sector leaders begin to significantly address the problems the same issues will continue to impact public services.”
Today’s report includes a formal call for the Scottish Government to lead a debate across the public sector to address the challenges that have been identified, including active involvement by chief executives from all public bodies.
The committee is organising a series of round-table sessions on each of the key themes it has uncovered.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here