Under scrutiny

With apologies to Michael, I've demoted him to the extra today.

Michael is a key member of the internal audit team for CHS and was present at today's Audit and Risk Management Committee meeting, along with our new external auditors, Audit Scotland.

As a public body we are rightly subject to scrutiny: of our financial controls, our risk management, our governance, our impact and value for money. While most of the focus is on us as the national team, the remit of audit extends to all of us in them system: the clerks in local authorities and people like those I met yesterday in the Area Support Teams.

We had some challenging but constructive and productive discussions. Michael is featured (in the extra - apologies again) as we learned today that this will be his last ARMC with us as he is moving on in his career. Michael has been around all the time I've been with CHS and his counsel - and scrutiny - will be missed.

As a photo for the blip I could not go past the bank of crocuses near the office when I headed to the bank after the meeting. The sun was out with that hint of spring warmth and the vibrancy of colours was very refreshing.