This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Appointments to Accounts Commission
17/02/2006
Three members have been re-appointment to the Accounts Commission for Scotland.
The re-appointed members are:
Jean Couper - Mrs Couper is a partner in a management consultancy and previously a senior management consultant with Price Waterhouse. She is chairman of the Scottish Legal Aid Board for which she receives remuneration of £28,000 per annum. She is also a non-remunerated member of the Police Advisory Board.
Keith Geddes - Mr Geddes is Policy Director for a consultancy firm, a former Leader of Edinburgh and Lothian Regional Councils and former president of COSLA. He is also deputy chairman of Scottish National Heritage for which he receives remuneration of £18,000 per annum.
Alan Alexander - Mr Alexander is a retired emeritus Professor of Local and Public Management at Strathclyde Business School. He is a member of the Social Research Council and chairman of Scottish Water for which he receives remuneration of £5,200 and £53,000 per annum respectively
These re-appointments will be for three years and will run from 1 October 2005 to 30 September 2008 .
These posts are part-time and attract a remuneration of £ 4,500 per annum for a time commitment of 18 days per year. No additional Ministerial appointments are held by the members detailed above.
The Accounts Commision for Scotland was established in September 1974, under the provision of section 97(1) of the Local Government Scotland Act 1973 (as amended). The Accounts Commission remit is to:
- Secure the audit of all the accounts of local authorities in Scotland;
- Consider reports made to them by their senior officer, the Controller of Audit;
- To make recommendations to the Scottish Ministers and local authorities in accordance with the audit provision of the Act;
- Undertake value for money studies in local government;
- Determine and publish performance indicators for local authorities.
These Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Mr Geddes has declared political activity for the Labour Party. No political activity has been declared by the other two re-appointed members.