Scottish Borders Council has more to do

10.10.09am GMT Sun 11th Mar 2007

Cllr Alec Nicol

Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale MSP, Jeremy Purvis, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP, Euan Robson and Councillor Alec Nicol have concluded that Scottish Borders Council has some way to go before being up with the best performers amongst Scottish local authorities.

Commenting on a report by Audit Scotland into Scottish Borders Council on Best Value and Community Planning, Euan Robson MSP said:

"Yes there has been a lot of progress since the dark days under Convenor Tulley but some of the old problems remain.

"Audit Scotland interestingly says that there is a 'wide gap' between the Council's current performance and its aspirations."

Commenting further, Jeremy Purvis MSP said:

"There are clear areas for improvement such as in asset management, strategic procurement and engagement with communities.

"The new Council, with increased Liberal Democrat participation, will address community care problems, support for voluntary organisations and road maintenance, cut successively by the Tory/Independent Administration."

Cllr Alec Nicol, Liberal Democrat Leader on the Council, added to this saying:

"What is especially interesting is that many of the themes such as better engagement with communities - now especially necessary because of the recent Planning (Scotland) Act - have been pursued in the last months by the Scrutiny Committee which I chair.

"Audit Scotland's report marks the way forward for the Council and we Liberal Democrats will use it to inform our view as to the direction that the authority must take from May 2007 onwards"