Robert Black (auditor) explained

Robert William Black
Birth Date:6 November 1946[1]
Birth Place:Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Death Place:Dunblane, Scotland
Term Start:February 2000
Term End:June 2012
Firstminister:Donald Dewar MSP (2000)
Henry McLeish MSP (2000 to 2001)

Alex Salmond MSP (2007 to 2014)
Predecessor:Inaugural holder
Alma Mater:University of Aberdeen

Robert William Black (6 November 1946 – 15 October 2021) was a Scottish public administrator who was the first Auditor General for Scotland, holding the post between 2000 and 2012. He had several Local Authority management roles before being appointed as Auditor General. As Auditor General he coordinated the scrutiny of public finances over several administrations. After retiring from the role of Auditor General he held multiple board positions and chaired several independent commissions that carried out independent reviews on issues such as housing policy and policing.

Early life and education

Black was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire.[2] He was educated at Robert Gordon's College.[3] He studied at the University of Aberdeen, graduating with an honours MA degree in economics, then gained a MSc degree in town planning from Heriot-Watt University, and a master's degree in public policy from University of Strathclyde.

Career

Local Authority management

Black was a local authority chief executive for 10 years, first with Stirling District Council 1985−90, then with Tayside Regional Council 1990−95.[4]

Auditor General

Black became Controller of Audit with the Accounts Commission in 1995, and was the first person to hold the position who was not an accountant.[5] In May 1999, the Scottish Parliament voted to nominate a person to become the first Auditor General for Scotland.[6] Parliament's choice was approved by the Queen, and Black was appointed to the post in February 2000.[7] He was also the chief executive of Audit Scotland. In October 2011 he announced that he would retire from Audit Scotland.[8] In March 2012, the Scottish Parliament decided that Caroline Gardner should succeed him.[9]

Board and Commission appointments

Black began a three-year term on the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) in March 2012.[10]

In June 2012, Black was appointed to the board of the British Library for a four-year term.[11] He was re-appointed for a second term in 2016,[12] [13] and chaired their public audit committee.[14]

In 2012 he gave a lecture at the David Hume Institute, where he questioned the sustainability of public services if provision continued free at the current level.[15] [16] Black had proposed that a Scottish Commission for Resources and Performance be established, modelled on the Australian Government's Productivity Commission.[17] This was not progressed by the Government.[18]

In 2013, Black was announced as chair of the independent Commission on Housing and Wellbeing, bringing together eight members from a variety of organisations, with the aim of improving Scotland's wellbeing through better housing.[19] [20] The Commission reported in 2015 making eighteen recommendations.[21] [22]

Black was a member of the University Court at the University of Edinburgh.[23] He was a lay member of the University Court at the University of Stirling from 2019.[24]

Black was asked by Scottish Government to respond to the Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) Thematic Inspection of the SPA's recommendation to review the roles of its chair and members in executive work. Black reported in August 2020 that the SPA's governance and accountability arrangements were neither flawed nor in need of reorganisation.[25] [26] In March 2021, Black was appointed to the board of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA).[27] [28]

He chaired the board of trustees at the economic think tank Fiscal Affairs Scotland.[29] Set up in 2014, it closed in 2017 after failing to attract financial support.[30] [31]

In 2006 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.[32] He was a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society.[33]

Black died at his home in Dunblane on 15 October 2021, at the age of 74. A memorial service is to be held at Dunblane Cathedral on 1 November 2021.[34] [35]

Honours and awards

Black received an Honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of Aberdeen in 2004,[2] then an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from Queen Margaret University in 2006. He was an Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.[33]

Black received a CBE in the 2012 New Year Honours.[36]

In 2017, Black became honorary vice-president of the housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland, only the second person in the charity's fifty-year history to be honoured in this way.[37]

Notes and References

  1. News: https://archive.today/20211102130514/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/robert-black-obituary-dhgkjfh99 . 2021-11-02 . 2021-10-30 . Robert Black obituary. The Times .
  2. Honorary Graduands - Summer 2004 . . 5 July 2004 . 20 December 2015.
  3. News: Parliament appoints financial watchdog . . Glasgow . 11 September 1999 . 19 October 2021.
  4. News: Robert Black nominated for Auditor General for Scotland . . 10 September 1999 . 19 October 2021.
  5. Scotland's Auditor General awarded honorary degree . . 10 July 2006 . 20 December 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222115833/http://www.qmu.ac.uk/marketing/press_releases/robertblack.htm . 22 December 2015 . dmy-all .
  6. News: Scotland - Black set to be auditor general . John . Stokdyk . . 31 May 1999 . 19 October 2021.
  7. News: Watchdog who's unafraid to bare his teeth He wants MSPs to take lessons to understand finance, and plans a joint report with his English counterpart on the NHS. Political editor Douglas Fraser puts our ambitious auditor general under scrutiny . Douglas . Fraser . The Herald . 22 March 2005. 19 October 2021.
  8. News: Auditor General Robert Black announces his retirement . . 6 October 2011 . 19 October 2021.
  9. News: Gardner set to become auditor general for Scotland . Keith . Aitken . . 28 March 2012 . 19 October 2021.
  10. News: ICAS appoints two new public interest members to its council . Scott . McCulloch . www.insider.co.uk . 20 March 2012 . 19 October 2021.
  11. The British Library: appointment of a new Part-time Board Member . . July 2012 . 20 December 2015.
  12. Culture Secretary Reappoints Two British Library Board Members . gov.uk . 8 March 2016 . 20 October 2021.
  13. Web site: 2 Reappointments for British Library Board . diversityuk.org . 8 March 2016. 19 October 2021.
  14. Web site: About Us: Governance: British Library Board: Chairman and members of the Board: Dr Robert Black CBE . . https://web.archive.org/web/20170103193445/http://www.bl.uk/aboutus/governance/blboard/memberslist/drrblack/ . 3 January 2017 . dead.
  15. News: Robert Black: Free public services need 'revisiting' . . 5 October 2012 . 19 October 2021.
  16. News: Bark and bite from the public's watchdog . Douglas . Fraser . . 4 October 2012 . 19 October 2021.
  17. News: Scottish independence: Cash crisis 'can't wait till after referendum' . Eddie . Barnes . . 5 October 2012 . 20 October 2021.
  18. News: Swinney: no to new finance watchdog More scrutiny needed, says ex-auditor . Colin . Donald . The Herald . 3 February 2013 . 20 October 2021.
  19. News: Scottish housing policy set for review . . 23 October 2013 . 19 October 2021.
  20. News: Poor housing in Scotland a health 'time bomb' . Shân . Ross . . 11 March 2015 . 19 October 2021.
  21. News: Housing report warns of cost to future generations . Stephen . Naysmith . The Herald . 10 June 2015 . 19 October 2021.
  22. News: Is Scotland facing a housing crisis? . Kate . Shannon . . 8 October 2015 . 19 October 2021.
  23. Web site: University Court: Membership :Information about Members of the University Court: 2015-2016: Dr Robert Black . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113214/http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/governance-strategic-planning/governance/university-court/membership?ID=35&cw_xml=member_detail.cfm . 4 March 2016. dead.
  24. Web site: Our People > University Court > Members > Dr Robert Black CBE . University of Stirling. 19 October 2021.
  25. News: Scottish Police Authority changes would 'put at risk' chief constable's independence . Conor . Matchett . . 7 August 2020 . 19 October 2021.
  26. Web site: Role of the Scottish Police Authority, the Chair and members: independent review . . 7 August 2020 . 19 October 2021.
  27. Web site: Six new members appointed to Scottish Police Authority . scottishlegal.com . 22 March 2021 . 19 October 2021.
  28. Web site: About us > The Board > Dr Robert Black CBE FRSE . Scottish Police Authority. 19 October 2021.
  29. News: Think tank Fiscal Affairs Scotland suspends activities . . 8 October 2015 . 19 October 2021.
  30. News: Independent Scottish fiscal studies body faces closure as funds dry up . Severin . Carrell . . 8 October 2015 . 19 October 2021.
  31. Web site: Charity details > Fiscal Affairs Scotland SCIO, SC044827 . www.oscr.org.uk . . 19 October 2021.
  32. Web site: Fellows > Dr Robert W. Black CBE, FRSE . . 19 October 2021.
  33. Web site: Robert Black biographical notes . . 2011 . 20 December 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151003095424/http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/docs/corp/2011/ags_111006_rblack_bio.pdf . 3 October 2015 . dmy-all .
  34. News: Notices and Announcements > Death Notices & Obituaries > Robert Black . The Herald . 30 October 2021 . 1 November 2021.
  35. Web site: Tribute to Robert Black CBE . audit-scotland.gov.uk . Audit Scotland. 20 October 2021 . 1 November 2021.
  36. News: Honours: Order of the British Empire, Civil - GBE, DBE, CBE . . 31 December 2011 . 20 December 2015.
  37. News: Former Auditor General Robert Black becomes honorary vice-president of Shelter Scotland . Kate . Shannon . . 4 April 2017 . 19 October 2021.

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