Praise for council services (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Praise for council services

8:50am Saturday 7th March 2009 in Alresford By Rachel Masker

HAMPSHIRE County Council has received top marks from a Government watchdog for delivering services.

The Audit Commission comprehensive performance assessment (CPA), which judges overall performance of councils, has awarded the county four stars for the seventh consecutive year.

Council leader Ken Thornber said he welcomed the results which also rated the council as “improving strongly.”

Cllr Thornber said: “Our aim is and always has been to offer high quality services within a council tax that is among the lowest in the land.”

County chiefs are set to raise council tax by 1.9 per cent in April - the lowest increase since 1971.

The council has come under fire for splashing out £1.25m of taxpayers’ money on new furniture for its offices at Ashburton Court in Winchester as part of a £40m refit and failing to cut some councillor allowances as recommended by an independent panel.

But the Audit Commission report said: “The council currently achieves very good value for money. High performance is achieved by the council across a range of services, which clearly reflect council priorities and demonstrate good value when compared to others in key service areas.”

Improvements highlighted in the report include the council making better use of its office space and property.

The council was also praised for the “high level of educational achievement,” children’s centres and being a “top performer in reducing the amount of waste going into landfill.”