Independent report says Lancaster City Council improving faster rate than other councils
Services provided by Lancaster City Council are improving at a faster rate than other councils.
Services provided by Lancaster City Council are improving at a faster rate than other councils.
That’s the verdict of the Audit Commission, local government’s independent watchdog.
Over the past year it has carried out a range of audit and inspection work with the council and has now published its findings in an Annual Audit and Inspection Letter.
The report praises the city council, saying it has made good progress and acknowledges a significant number of developments and continued improvements it has made including:
* An increase in the number of high performing services
* The fact the district is becoming a cleaner and healthier place to live, with litter reduced and low graffiti levels
* Improvements in recycling, street cleanliness, homelessness and the performance around planning applications
* That the amount of waste collected and sent to landfill is down
* That crime is falling faster than in other parts of the region with significant reductions in violent crime and thefts from vehicles
* That local people have fewer concerns about anti social behaviour than previously
The council’s continued progress on the physical and economic regeneration of the district receives particular praise. Key council-led projects completed last year include the Storey Centre for Creative Industries, West End Gardens and Phases six and seven of the coastal defence works, which includes the extended landscape promenade walkways at the Sandylands end of Morecambe.
The report acknowledges, however, that in common with other parts of the country, the economic downturn has had an impact on the council. The additional cost of concessionary travel, increased revenue costs, and reduced income from investment, rental and fees have all had an impact on the council’s finances.
Despite this it judges the council as providing adequate value for money and identified that it met its efficiency targets.
In addition to recognising the achievements, the Audit Commission has also made a number of recommendations to the council. These include:
* The need to make further efficiencies/savings to meet budget projections for 2009/10. This will be especially tough in a time of recession so the council will be strengthening its focus on identifying significant further savings to meet budget projections for 2009/10 and beyond.
* The council should improve its performance against the Local Government Equality Standard
* The council should continue to work closely with NHS Trusts and other key partners to better co-ordinate health initiatives
* Improved management arrangements need to be put into place to continue to reduce sickness absence
Leader of the Council, Coun Abbott Bryning said: "Residents and users of Lancaster City Council’s services should be heartened by this independent report and it should give them confidence in their local council. It provides strong proof that the officers and councillors are 100% dedicated to serving their local community and to making every penny count.”
Date Published: 27/04/09