This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/8036632.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Concern over crumbling buildings | Concern over crumbling buildings |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| A quarter of Scottish council buildings are in "poor or bad" condition, according to a spending watchdog. | A quarter of Scottish council buildings are in "poor or bad" condition, according to a spending watchdog. |
| Audit Scotland said many were unsuitable for the services delivered from them, despite £136m spent on maintenance last year. | Audit Scotland said many were unsuitable for the services delivered from them, despite £136m spent on maintenance last year. |
| The cost of tackling the repairs backlog has reached at least £1.4bn. | The cost of tackling the repairs backlog has reached at least £1.4bn. |
| Local authority representative body Cosla accused the Accounts Commission of demanding a "Rolls Royce service" for the price of a bus fare. | Local authority representative body Cosla accused the Accounts Commission of demanding a "Rolls Royce service" for the price of a bus fare. |
| The report looked at how councils maintain buildings such as schools, care homes, sports centres, office buildings, museums and works depots. | The report looked at how councils maintain buildings such as schools, care homes, sports centres, office buildings, museums and works depots. |
| The proportion in "good or satisfactory condition" ranged from 90% in East Ayrshire and Angus to less than 50% in Aberdeenshire and Inverclyde. | The proportion in "good or satisfactory condition" ranged from 90% in East Ayrshire and Angus to less than 50% in Aberdeenshire and Inverclyde. |
| Whilst cutting building maintenance may seem attractive, it won't help in the medium to long term John BaillieAccounts Commission | Whilst cutting building maintenance may seem attractive, it won't help in the medium to long term John BaillieAccounts Commission |
| Aberdeenshire topped the list for buildings in poor condition, with poor suitability at more than 30%. Glasgow had the fewest in that condition at 1%. | Aberdeenshire topped the list for buildings in poor condition, with poor suitability at more than 30%. Glasgow had the fewest in that condition at 1%. |
| Only half of councils had strategies for managing and maintaining property and two-thirds did not think further ahead than five years about what services they would need. | Only half of councils had strategies for managing and maintaining property and two-thirds did not think further ahead than five years about what services they would need. |
| Audit Scotland, which prepared the report for the Accounts Commission, said the £1.4bn figure for the maintenance backlog was almost certainly an underestimate because nine local authorities were unable to provide information. | Audit Scotland, which prepared the report for the Accounts Commission, said the £1.4bn figure for the maintenance backlog was almost certainly an underestimate because nine local authorities were unable to provide information. |
| John Baillie, chairman of the Accounts Commission, said: "Councils are facing a very difficult outlook. | John Baillie, chairman of the Accounts Commission, said: "Councils are facing a very difficult outlook. |
| "Whilst cutting building maintenance may seem attractive, it won't help in the medium to long term as it just makes backlogs worse and leads to higher costs. | "Whilst cutting building maintenance may seem attractive, it won't help in the medium to long term as it just makes backlogs worse and leads to higher costs. |
| "It is essential that councils review and improve their performance on asset management to ensure they are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible." | "It is essential that councils review and improve their performance on asset management to ensure they are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible." |
| 'Council bashing' | 'Council bashing' |
| The report found little evidence that building use was being effectively challenged or scrutinised by councillors. | The report found little evidence that building use was being effectively challenged or scrutinised by councillors. |
| "We encourage councillors and council officials to take a much more active and dynamic approach to assessing and scrutinising council assets and how they meet people's current and future needs," Mr Baillie added. | "We encourage councillors and council officials to take a much more active and dynamic approach to assessing and scrutinising council assets and how they meet people's current and future needs," Mr Baillie added. |
| "They need to be better at planning much further ahead, such as in the provision of new buildings." | "They need to be better at planning much further ahead, such as in the provision of new buildings." |
| Cosla president Pat Watters said the report was "opportunistic council bashing". | Cosla president Pat Watters said the report was "opportunistic council bashing". |
| "The bottom line is that buildings require a vast amount of money spent on them on an ongoing basis and this has not always been possible as demands for services and additional funding pressures kick in," he said. | "The bottom line is that buildings require a vast amount of money spent on them on an ongoing basis and this has not always been possible as demands for services and additional funding pressures kick in," he said. |
| "The commission has to realise that the whole of the public sector is operating in the teeth of the worst recession in living memory." | "The commission has to realise that the whole of the public sector is operating in the teeth of the worst recession in living memory." |
| Mr Watters added: "Once again we have the Accounts Commission demanding a Rolls Royce service, when councils barely have the bus fare." | Mr Watters added: "Once again we have the Accounts Commission demanding a Rolls Royce service, when councils barely have the bus fare." |
| Challenges ahead | |
| Aberdeenshire Council leader Anne Robertson said: "Aberdeenshire Council is very aware of the importance of its assets. | |
| "The information in the audit report is by no means new to us, and we have been very open about our intentions and the challenges that lie before us in achieving them. | |
| "Aberdeenshire Council is a largely rural authority, and our estate is large, incorporating more than 13,115 council houses, 1,552 sheltered houses, 173 school buildings, 17 community centres, plus a variety of children's homes, day centres, care homes, various recreational facilities and the council offices necessary to cover such a wide geographical area." | |
| She added: "Aberdeenshire Council's vision is to be the best area and the best council, and to achieve this our assets have to be the best that they can be to meet everybody's needs." | |
| The report, Asset management in Local Government in Scotland, includes details of each council's performance and a checklist that councillors can use to help identify areas for improvement. | The report, Asset management in Local Government in Scotland, includes details of each council's performance and a checklist that councillors can use to help identify areas for improvement. |