The Business Services Committee of Aberdeenshire Council met on Thursday 11 June 2026 to discuss a range of important operational and strategic matters. Key topics included the council's governance, performance, and financial strategies, alongside specific issues such as the Stonehaven Beach toilets and the Counter Fraud and Corruption Strategy. The meeting also addressed scrutiny referrals and consultation responses.

Draft Annual Governance Statement 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to consider and comment on the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2025/26. This statement is a mandatory requirement for local government bodies and serves as an accountability report to stakeholders on the council's governance performance over the past year. The draft statement, which forms part of the review of annual effectiveness activities, was to be presented to all policy committees before being submitted for approval at the Audit Committee. The statement is based on the council's Code of Corporate Governance, which adopts seven principles aimed at ensuring integrity, openness, defining sustainable outcomes, determining necessary interventions, developing capacity, managing risks and performance, and implementing good practices in transparency, reporting, and audit.

Business Services' Annual Scrutiny and Improvement Report 2025/26

This report was intended to provide an overview of the key scrutiny activities undertaken by the committee during the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. It also outlined proposed areas for scrutiny in the coming year. Past activities detailed included reviews of the Business Services Directorate's Supplementary and Annual Procurement Plans, Strategic Plan, and Performance Monitoring Reports. The report also covered the Annual Governance Statement, Policy Register Annual Review, People Strategy updates, and various transformation programme updates. Informal scrutiny sessions with Area Committees were also highlighted. The proposed programme of future activity for 2026/27 included focusing on the Community Benefit Policy, Annual Procurement Report, Joint Procurement Strategy, and the Directorate's Strategic Plan and Performance Monitoring Reports.

Petition on Stonehaven Beach Toilets

The committee was scheduled to consider a petition requesting the reinstatement of toilet provision at Stonehaven Beach. The petition, which had gathered 298 signatures, highlighted an increase in visitor numbers since 2016 and referenced the Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan, which designates Stonehaven beachfront as a Tier 1 hotspot. The report noted that the decision to close the toilets was originally made by the Infrastructure Services Committee in 2016, with property and facilities management now falling under the remit of the Business Services Committee. The committee was asked to decide whether to simply note the petition or to instruct a report from the Head of Property and Facilities on the subject matter.

Business Services' Year-End Performance Monitoring Report - October 2025 to March 2026 (Council Priorities)

This report provided a year-end update on progress against performance indicators within the Business Services Directorate's Strategic Plan 2025-26, which supports the Council Plan 2024-29. A total of 27 performance measures were reported, with 15 showing as meeting or exceeding targets, eight off target, and four as data only. Key successes were noted in areas such as council tax income received, construction projects completed within budget, and the reduction in operational assets. Areas for improvement included the percentage of capital plan expenditure, investigation response times, percentage of staff digitally enabled, local supplier spend, staff wellbeing, digital confidence, occupation of commercial and industrial properties, and project delivery times.

Counter Fraud and Corruption Strategy

The committee was asked to approve an updated Counter Fraud and Corruption Strategy. This revised strategy incorporates legislative changes from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which aims to hold large organisations accountable for fraud committed by individuals acting on their behalf. The strategy sets out the council's aims, governance arrangements, risk areas, and actions to protect public funds. Key changes include a broader scope to cover economic crime and anti-money laundering, stronger governance and accountability, a formal performance framework, and a greater focus on data analytics and continuous monitoring. The strategy also emphasizes a zero-tolerance approach to fraud, bribery, and corruption, supported by training and awareness initiatives.

Scrutiny Referral from Audit Committee: Internal Audit Report 2617 - Commercial and Industrial Lets

This item concerned a referral from the Audit Committee requesting that the Business Services Committee undertake a Committee Review Process to address recommendations within Internal Audit Report 2617 concerning Commercial and Industrial Lets. The internal audit report identified significant weaknesses in governance, documentation, tenancy management, income recovery, and performance monitoring, leading to a Major risk rating and Limited assurance. The report highlighted issues such as outdated procedures, missing documentation, significant control failures in income recovery, inconsistencies in application of processes, and weaknesses in deposit administration and reporting. Management acknowledged the findings and outlined a programme of improvement, including an organisational structure review. The committee was asked to decide whether to initiate the Committee Review Process and agree on reporting timelines.

Consultation Response - Revised National Performance Framework

The committee was asked to note the council's response to the Scottish Government's consultation on revisions to the National Performance Framework (NPF). The NPF is Scotland's long-term wellbeing framework, and the consultation sought feedback on a refreshed model and refocused vision. Aberdeenshire Council's response supported the emphasis on long-term wellbeing, the reduction in the number of outcomes, and the inclusion of cross-cutting perspectives such as fairness, equality, human rights, and digital technology. The council also provided input on how indicators should be used to influence change and suggested that clear statutory expectations, improved alignment between national funding and national outcomes, and consistent guidance and resources would be crucial for successful implementation.

Consultation Response - Code of Audit - Audit Scotland

The committee was requested to note the council's response to Audit Scotland's consultation on the draft Code of Audit Practice for 2027/28 to 2031/32. The council's response welcomed the proposed direction of the new code, noting its balance between proportionality, transparency, and audit quality. However, it also recommended that the code could be more specific regarding the expectations for both external and internal audit, and that clear guidance would be important to ensure consistency across auditors and councils, avoiding duplication with Best Value work. The response also highlighted the need for clarity on the definition of smaller bodies for audit purposes and the interaction between Best Value work and ongoing transformation programmes.

Commissioning Strategy

This report provided an update on the development of a council-wide Commissioning Strategy. The strategy aims to establish a consistent approach to commissioning that supports evidence-based decision-making, strengthens partnership working, and focuses on delivering improved outcomes and value for money. The proposed model adopts a four-stage commissioning cycle: Analyse, Plan, Do, and Review. Initial work had commenced on the Analyse phase, including expenditure mapping and stakeholder engagement. Potential priority areas for further analysis included Fleet, Waste, Energy Management, and Property and Facilities Management. The committee was asked to note the progress to date and approve the continued development of the strategy framework.

Minute of Meeting of Licensing Sub-Committee of 20 February 2026

The committee was scheduled to note the minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee meeting held on 20 February 2026. This meeting had discussed a taxi fare review, public entertainment licences for the World Cup, and applications for taxi driver's licences. Key decisions included authorising a review of the taxi fare scale, approving a general variation to public hall licences to allow extended hours for World Cup matches, and refusing one taxi driver's licence application while deferring another.

The meeting also included items to be considered with the press and public excluded, relating to Bad Debts Write Off and Business Services' Directorate Supplementary Procurement Plan 2026/27.