THE Wee County has received praise and warning in equal measure from Scotland’s local authority watchdog this week. 

The Accounts Commission praised Clackmannanshire Council for its “continuous improvement on key areas over the last five years”.

However, the annual report warned that the council “must now urgently address its financial situation”. 

“Like many councils across Scotland, Clackmannanshire is facing significant financial pressures, and needs to make £22 million of savings by 2026/27,” a press release from the Commission stated. 

The council has made £70 million worth of savings since 2010, and it has previously fallen back on reserves and one off savings to balance its books. The Commission said this approach “cannot continue”. 

“Today’s report highlights the progress made by Clackmannanshire Council. The council should rightly be proud of these achievements,” Jo Armstrong, Chair of the Accounts Commission, said.

“There are positive working relationships between councillors and staff and across political parties, with evidence of collaborative working to agree priorities and budgets.” 

READ MORE: Doors Open Days is coming to Clacks: What is it and what venues are taking part?

She continued: “But we cannot ignore the fact that the council faces a particular combination of challenges, including strain across recruitment, staff capacity and high sickness absence.” 

Ms Armstrong acknowledged that local authorities across the country are struggling with similar financial pressures, but the Commission has nonetheless urged Clackmannanshire to develop a medium-term financial strategy by March 2025.

Since publication, Clackmannanshire Council has welcomed the report. 

“For Scotland’s smallest mainland authority to show we continue to punch above our weight on so many fronts was really good to hear,” Council Leader Ellen Forson said. 

“It’s fantastic to have our hard work and all the progress we have made acknowledged by our watchdog.” 

However, despite “significant progress”, Cllr Forson said the council is “not complacent”. 

“We absolutely realise the significant challenges ahead, particularly in respect of financial sustainability as the Accounts Commission has highlighted. We also recognise that many of these challenges lie outwith our control,” she said. 

“That is why we have prioritised transformation and collaborative working, with the aim of achieving financial stability, for the past six years, and will continue to do so in the future.”

Finances aside, the report was largely positive. 

The Commission praised Clackmannanshire for its good working relationship with community partners, positive working relationships between the administration and opposition parties, comprehensive climate change and equalities policies, community engagement, and more. 

However, the Commission also highlighted “the particular combination of challenges facing the council” – including capacity, recruitment, resilience within teams, leadership development and sickness absence. 

Sickness absence in particular is an area of weakness for the council.

According to the Commission, Clackmannanshire ranked as the worst performing Scottish council for both teacher and non-teacher sickness absence in 2018 and 2019 Best Value audit data. 

“The council has taken measures to understand and manage sickness absence, but its performance remains poor and is worse than the Scottish average,” the report stated. 

Additionally, the “comparative performance of Clackmannanshire Council’s services have declined over time”. 

READ MORE: Duncan Scott named Swimmer of the Year at awards show

According to the latest available Local Government Benchmarking Framework (LGBF) data, 44 per cent of Clackmannanshire Council’s LGBF indicators are in the top two quartiles for Scottish councils compared to 50 per cent in previous years.

Despite some room for improvement, Clackmannanshire is pleased with the Commission report.

“My thanks go to our staff, our communities, our partners and our collaborators for their hard work and support in helping us to get to where we are,” Clackmannanshire’s chief executive Nikki Bridle concluded. 

“There is no doubt we are working in a very challenging context and we remain resolute in seeking to address these challenges together.”