Mark Conrad 24 May 2022

Councils urged to draw on crisis management skills

Councils urged to draw on crisis management skills image
Image: garagestock/Shutterstock.com.

Scotland’s councils should draw on their COVID-19 experiences when handling the new challenges posed by service backlogs and rising inflation, the country’s spending watchdog has suggested.

A report by the Accounts Commission published today said that Scotland’s councils will need to draw on the crisis management skills learned during the health pandemic to stabilise services amid rising demand and soaring costs.

The commission warned: ‘Now councils must lead recovery work with and alongside their local communities, focusing on getting the services people need in place as pressures and stresses escalate and impact the day-to-day lives of individuals and communities.

It observed councils were still dealing with long-term pressures that pre-date the pandemic, such as rising poverty rates and inequality, and face further challenges such as ‘high absence levels’ among staff, skills shortages and a lack of certainty over long-term funding.

Accounts Commission chair, William Moyes, said: ‘Councils are operating in a complex and increasingly volatile, unprecedented and unpredictable environment.

'Strong leadership from councils is needed now more than ever, with new and returning councillors being able and willing to make difficult decisions about where and how to spend highly pressurised resources.

‘Pressures on councils and their communities have intensified from spiralling inflation and significant increases to the cost of living.

‘Councillors and senior officers must use learning from the past two years, working with their partners and communities in the recovery, renewal and difficult decision making about the future of services.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Early Help Family Practitioner - 12 month FTC

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
£39150.00 - £42861.00 per annum
Be the support that helps families find their strength and move forward.Be the support that helps families find their strength and move forward. As England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development

Swansea Council
£73,908 - £85,884
As Head of HR and OD Swansea (Abertawe)
Recuriter: Swansea Council

Early Help Practitioner

Durham County Council
Grade 6, £28,142 - £31,022 per annum
Durham County Council are on a continuous improvement journey in relation to its Early Help service. We are one of 75 Local Authorities who are part o Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Legal Clerical Assistant

Durham County Council
£26,403 to £28,598 p.a. (Grade 5)
A vacancy has arisen within Business Services for a full time, permanent Legal Clerical Assistant to provide legal clerical support to solicitors and Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Practice Coordinator

Durham County Council
Grade 13 - £47,181 - £51,356
Do you love supporting practitioners to bring their best selves to their work? We are looking for a Practice Coordinator to support our Social Worker Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner