The Seminar proved to be a successful event where views were expressed in an open and beneficial manner. We hope delegates appreciated the efforts being made to make Inspection less of a burden and more of a process designed to help local authorities improve. We have tried to include most of the questions asked of the panel highlighted in the QA boxes. The implicit aim of the JSF is cohesiveness and co-ordination of language, principles and methodology but only where possible. This edition also includes information on future newsletters being used to disseminate best practice and dates of various Best Value workshops that focus on specific services.
Audit focuses more on stewardship arrangement, inspections on professional excellence.
Russell Dick , HMI Schools described the development of a partnership relationship with Audit Scotland through preparing for and carrying out the inspection and Best Value scrutiny of education authorities. Where targets and objectives are set by a central authority flexibility to achieve them is crucial to success. Financial planning Procurement Best Value Inclusiveness Health and safety management Asset Management Personnel development Graham Power , HMI Constabulary, said that police authorities need to do more to participate in the review process - without proper oversight reviews can overlap or even lead to conflicting recommendations. Dennis Davis , HMI Fire, said that when measuring performance there were several critical success factors that would be common to all. Inspectors need to be regarded and regard themselves as a resource, not simply an obligation.