FIFE Council, like other Local Authorities has a number of ALEOs which provide key services in Fife. These are the Fife Sports & Leisure Trust, Fife Cultural Trust providing museum, library and theatres, Fife Resource Solutions dealing with waste issues, and the Fife Golf Trust (which operates Lochore Meadows, Auchterderran and the Dora Courses).

It is something your readers might like to know more about.

These organisations have been set up over the last few years to provide services which were previously provided by the Council. There have been a number of advantages from doing this particularly financial savings due to rates relief, but also having dedicated organisations looking at the delivery of particular services has improved efficiency, increased numbers using these services and produced further savings.

A recent report from the Accounts Commission has highlighted a number of issues and concerns which I feel need to be addressed. There can be a conflict of interest for Elected Members and Council officers who are on the boards of ALEOs as whilst Directors of the ALEO they should be totally focused on improving the performance of the ALEO this may be in conflict with their wider responsibilities as Elected Members or Council Officers.

The recent Accounts Commission report also highlighted other concerns for instance that there may not be adequate scrutiny of the work of ALEOs and I know that at times information does not get passed back to the wider body of Elected Members.

An example of this was when Fife Resource Solutions, which is responsible for the Council’s waste services, decided to withdraw the sending out of food waste bags. There was no consultation on this, simply a decision made by the FRS Board and it was not included in the savings that were listed as part of the Budget for 2018/19.

The Accounts Commission also highlighted concerns about the selection of Elected Members to serve on ALEOS. At the present time the position in Fife is that Elected Members are nominated by the different political groups but these may not ensure that members with appropriate or relevant experience are appointed to the Boards.

I have written to the Council’s Chief Executive asking if a report on ALEOs can come to the Council’s Policy & Co-ordination Committee and have also written to the Chair of the Council’s Standards & Audit Committee as I believe that this is something that they should be looking into.

COUNCILLOR TIM BRETT,

Leader Liberal Democrats

On Fife Council.