Published 05 October 2026
West Dunbartonshire Council has welcomed an independent audit report praising its community engagement and resident-focused approach to decision-making, according to West Dunbartonshire Council.
The Best Value report, published by the Accounts Commission following an in-depth review of the Council, highlighted consultation and feedback approaches which ensure local people’s views shape services and decisions that affect their communities.
The Auditor, should you have missed him, was the guy in the dark glasses carrying a white stick, who was seen in the community narrowly avoiding falling over debris on filthy streets, overflowing bins, uncut grass and bumping into overgrown hedges in local council estates.
If you don’t believe this, then consult the Council’s own online complaints service, which has around 100 complaints a week about council services — that is around 5,000 a year.
West Dunbartonshire Council chief executive Peter Hessett and Labour administration leader Martin Rooney, who only kept the job because SNP leader Gordon Scanlan refused to take it despite having the majority to take it on.
We are told the figure would be much greater if only the Council would answer the telephone in their £16 million, half-empty offices in Church Street, where it’s impossible to hear what’s going on or even see from the “public gallery” who is speaking at the time. There is no press bench where journalists can take notes.
Let’s pause for a laugh here since you will split your sides at the following.
The report also noted the Council’s strong leadership, effective governance and impactful work to improve the lives of residents, alongside continuous improvement demonstrated by positive performance across many key services.
Auditors recognised the Council’s effective management of finances and robust scrutiny from elected members.
You really have to ask yourself: “Who writes this stuff?”
The report adds: “Acknowledging transformation is embedded throughout Council services, auditors recommended that the pace and scale of this should now accelerate to ensure the Council remains sustainable in the face of ongoing financial challenges.”
Council Leader Councillor Martin Rooney said: “We welcome this positive independent assessment, which highlights progress in several areas and acknowledges the work that has been undertaken to improve services and deliver for local people.
“It is particularly encouraging that auditors recognised our commitment to listening to communities and the positive outcomes being delivered as a result.
“We also recognise that there are challenges ahead, particularly in relation to the financial pressures facing local government, but we are committed to building on our many strengths and delivering the change required to ensure the Council remains sustainable and resilient into the future.”
Chief Executive Peter Hessett added: “It is extremely encouraging that, despite the financial challenges facing the council, auditors recognised the resident-focused work underway to improve West Dunbartonshire.
“This positive report reflects the dedication of our officers, elected members and communities, whose commitment continues to drive improvement across the area.
“We will build on this strong foundation by continuing to work closely with residents, using the report’s findings to inform and strengthen our future planning and transformation work.”
The Commission published its findings in September following a significant review of the Council conducted over several months in 2026.
The truth is that no one in the community believes the results of these so-called consultations. It’s really hard to find anyone who has been consulted at all.
The Council will now consider the findings in detail and incorporate the recommendations into its ongoing improvement and transformation programmes.
The report will be brought to a Council meeting for discussion later this year. The full report is available on the Council website, on the Best Value Assurance page.
Top of page picture: Care workers demonstrating outside the Council offices where the HR department is reckoned to be among the worst in Scotland’s 32 local authorities.
“Acknowledging transformation is embedded throughout Council services, auditors recommended that the pace and scale of this should now accelerate to ensure the Council remains sustainable in the face of ongoing financial challenges.”
Who does indeed write this guff. And it is guff. And then you get the response –
” We welcome this positive independent assessment, which highlights progress in several areas and acknowledges the work that has been undertaken to improve services and deliver for local people ”
Folks know exactly what these empty jargonise words are, from people who take much, and deliver nothing, save for parroting absolute guff. Transformation embedded, pace and scale, should now accelerate and in response a welcome of independent assessment.
Cringeworthy and worse!