A "two star" council not showing signs of improvement (and at the bottom end of the league table!)

1.18.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 20th Feb 2008

Cllr Brian Hoare

The Audit Commission has issued its verdict on the Tory run County Council and it is disappointing to learn that the County Council has not improved on its 2 Star rating and more concerning the Audit Commission only assesses the rate of improvement as adequate.

The Tory administration took over County Hall nearly 3 years ago with the promise of sorting out the council and providing better services to the citizens of Northamptonshire but as they enter the final year of their 4 year term the prospect of improved services before the next election look dim.

Councillor Brian Hoare, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the County Council said "This assessment is very disappointing but not a surprise, the administration have not got to grips with the long term needs of the council and they have clearly mismanaged the finances over the last 3 years which is going to make it difficult to invest to improve services".

The audit commission report covers 150 authorities on a nationwide basis and which ever way you look at the results Northamptonshire county council come towards the bottom of the pile.

Ø Northamptonshire with its 2 star rating is in the bottom 15% of councils. 6 out of 7 authorities nationally achieved either 3 or 4 star ratings demonstrating that they are providing better services than Northamptonshire.

Ø Within the 34 County Councils assessed Northamptonshire was just one of four County Councils to only receive a 2 star rating i.e. in the bottom 10%.

Ø In terms of the prospect for the future Northamptonshire was 1 of 20 councils assessed as "improving adequately" whereas 70% were improving well, or strongly. Again Northamptonshire is at the bottom of the pile.

Councillor Hoare expressed particular concern at the combination of the star rating and the prospects for improvement. He said "not only is Northamptonshire one of the poorest performing councils assessed as 2 star the audit commission does not give residents of Northamptonshire comfort that the Tory administration is likely to improve matters. The administration is not sorting out the council and they do not deserve to be running the council following the election next year"

ENDS.