42.Paragraph (a) amends section 106 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 so that the provisions of Part 7 of that Act will apply to integration joint boards, requiring them to appoint a proper officer for the financial administration of the financial affairs of the integration joint board, keep accounts and have these accounts audited by the Accounts Commission for Scotland. The proper officer may be the chief officer if the integration joint board deems that to be appropriate. The chief officer is the accountable officer for all matters, but the integration joint board is able to appoint another officer to be the proper officer for matters of financial administration. Such an arrangement is not obligatory, but will allow for the integration joint board to place financial accountability in the hands of a finance professional, if it is agreed locally that that is appropriate.
43.Subsection (b) provides that certain sections of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, in respect of social security and benefit administration, will not apply to integration joint boards as they are outside of the scope of their functions.