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18/12/2003
'Real improvements' made in local government
There have been "some real improvements" in local public services over the past year, Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford said today.
The Audit Commission's report on local government, Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), contains updated results for all 150 single tier and county councils. These show an "overall improvement" in councils' performance, and many have advanced so far as to achieve greater freedoms from central government in the way they deliver services. Twenty-six councils are now categorised as 'excellent'.
Nick Raynsford said: "Today's results are not the end of the story. We expect all councils, no matter how well they have scored today, to continue the drive to make public services better in a cost-effective way. The government will continue to work directly with the poorer performing councils to help them improve their services.
"But councils should be aware better performance cannot come at an unreasonable cost to the taxpayer. We recently announced every local authority will get an above inflation increase in grant next year. We expect to see council tax rises next year in the low single figures."
However, Liberal Democrat Shadow for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Edward Davey, said that the league tables were another unnecessary layer of red-tape and bureaucracy.
He said: "When these tables were first published the government said they would never be needed again. Ministers promised to remove this level of regulation, targets and interference, but once again backed down on a promise to local government.
"Where councils are improving it is right to celebrate that success. Yet some of these figures are so arbitrary and flawed that there will be councils that will justifiably feel hard done by.
"The government cannot expect councils or council tax payers to take their promises seriously when they keep moving the goalposts."
Last year's CPA results were the start of an improvement planning process, helping councils to build on their strengths and address their weaknesses.
As councils improve they will be able to take advantage of the freedoms and flexibilities on offer such as the powers to trade contained in the Local Government Act 2003.
Results show that 26 councils have moved up at least one category, and nine have moved down a category. There are now 26 excellent councils, 56 good, 40 fair, 18 weak and 10 poor.
(gmcg)
The Audit Commission's report on local government, Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), contains updated results for all 150 single tier and county councils. These show an "overall improvement" in councils' performance, and many have advanced so far as to achieve greater freedoms from central government in the way they deliver services. Twenty-six councils are now categorised as 'excellent'.
Nick Raynsford said: "Today's results are not the end of the story. We expect all councils, no matter how well they have scored today, to continue the drive to make public services better in a cost-effective way. The government will continue to work directly with the poorer performing councils to help them improve their services.
"But councils should be aware better performance cannot come at an unreasonable cost to the taxpayer. We recently announced every local authority will get an above inflation increase in grant next year. We expect to see council tax rises next year in the low single figures."
However, Liberal Democrat Shadow for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Edward Davey, said that the league tables were another unnecessary layer of red-tape and bureaucracy.
He said: "When these tables were first published the government said they would never be needed again. Ministers promised to remove this level of regulation, targets and interference, but once again backed down on a promise to local government.
"Where councils are improving it is right to celebrate that success. Yet some of these figures are so arbitrary and flawed that there will be councils that will justifiably feel hard done by.
"The government cannot expect councils or council tax payers to take their promises seriously when they keep moving the goalposts."
Last year's CPA results were the start of an improvement planning process, helping councils to build on their strengths and address their weaknesses.
As councils improve they will be able to take advantage of the freedoms and flexibilities on offer such as the powers to trade contained in the Local Government Act 2003.
Results show that 26 councils have moved up at least one category, and nine have moved down a category. There are now 26 excellent councils, 56 good, 40 fair, 18 weak and 10 poor.
(gmcg)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
