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Council leader slates latest Audit Commission report as waste of money
Ref : 09/106 : Date : 09-12-2009
Adur Council leader, Neil Parkin, has slated the latest inspection report from the Audit Commission for praising the Adur and Worthing council partnership for savings millions, but not reflecting this in the scores. The partnership, which is set to make savings of £6.5 million by the end of the 2012/13 financial year, has a joint workforce of around 1200 providing services to around 160,000 residents.
Council leader, Neil Parkin said: “I welcome some of the comments and can accept useful criticism in a positive way if it can help improve services. At the same time I question the quality of these constant inspections and the value for money they provide. The council will pay £143,630 this year in fees to the Audit Commission. I think this money would be better spent on services to the people of Adur.”
The report says that people like living in Adur with satisfaction levels above the regional average, up from 73 per cent three years ago to 85 per cent now. Local people like the way the Council runs things with the score for managing services higher than average and a high percentage think the Council provides value for money.
Adur Council scored two out of a possible four and is rated adequately in a report. Many of the services and areas of work highlighted as good include:
- Recycling and refuse
- Clean streets
- Housing benefit is paid speedily - within 15 days
- Crime in Adur is lower than most places - 253 fewer crimes in 2008/9 - thanks to the work of the crime and disorder reduction partnership
- There are fewer homeless people in temporary housing, 89 at 30 June 2009, and the council is well on track to meet its target of 78 by 2010
Some criticism was directed at the council for not having published a sustainable community strategy. However, since the inspection work is progressing at a pace to prepare a joint Adur and Worthing sustainable community strategy, due to be published next spring.
The audit commission claim the council’s vision for the area is not clear but praised the leadership of the council for its commitment to change and drive for improvement.
For
more information on Oneplace and CAA, please visit :
To view the full results go to :
(Note 9th December 2009 - please be patient - these two websites seem to be struggling under the load today!)
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