Council slips to worst rating on services

The public spending watchdog has handed Bradford two stars out of a possible four, making it the only West Yorkshire council to hold the “adequate” rating.

The Council has never held a lower score since the Comprehensive Performance Assessment was introduced in 2002 – with a “good” assessment from 2002 to 2004 and a three star rating from 2005 to 2007.

The commission, which makes sure public money is spent efficiently, scrutinised the use of resources, how the Council is run and the performance of six areas of service.

It gives each a star rating from zero to four – the use of resources, or how well the Council manages its finances and provides value for money, was awarded three stars and the corporate assessment, or how the Council is run, gained two.

Out of the service areas examined, four were rated as “performing well” at three stars – benefits, culture, environment and adult social care; and two were classed as having an “adequate performance” at two stars – children and young people, and housing.

As well as giving a rating for its overall performance the commission assesses the local authority’s direction of travel and Bradford is “improving adequately”.

The commissions report reveals that some “priority areas” have improved, such as the way the Council helps older and vulnerable people lead independent lives, the safeguarding of young people, and more young people are in education, training and employment.

However improvements in educational attainment, such as at GCSE levels, are not keeping pace with national gains. In addition, levels of infant mortality and obesity are higher than in similar areas.

Crime is reducing but road safety is a concern. Environmental performance is mixed as the streets are cleaner, but levels of recycling are low.

More people are being helped into jobs and the speedy payment of invoices is helping the local economy.

But benefits claimants are still not receiving speedy and accurate payments. Value for money remains adequate through low council tax and efficiency gains.

Council chief executive Tony Reeves said: “Obviously we would like a better star rating in the ‘harder test’ corporate performance assessment.

“Some of these assessments were done over a year ago. We have learned from them and services have improved, which isn’t reflected in the overall rating, of course.”

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, said: “People rightly expect the best from their council, particularly in these tough times.

“The challenge ahead is for councils and the rest of the public sector to do all they can, working together, to help their communities through the downturn, building on councils’ role as community leaders.

“And despite overall progress, resolute work is needed to tackle areas which are not performing as well and where we are determined to see further improvements.”

Local Government Minister John Healey said: “These assessments highlight the improvements councils have made in recent years and the action they need to take now. Councils and the rest of the public sector all need to deliver top class services for their residents who are relying on them more than ever in today’s economic climate. We expect councils and their partners to meet the challenge to make taxpayers’ money go further through better working and cutting out red tape. And keeping council tax down is a priority.”

In Yorkshire and Humber, 11 of 15 councils have achieved four or three star status, although Doncaster Council has dropped from three to one star and six authorities in the region have dropped by one star, including Bradford.

In West Yorkshire, Kirklees has maintained its four-star rating in 2008, while Calderdale and Leeds have both dropped from four to three stars. Wakefield has jumped from three to four stars and is improving well.

This is the last Comprehensive Performance Assessment, which was introduced in 2002, and became a harder test in 2005. The new Comprehensive Area Assessment will, from April, focus on how well local service providers are meeting the needs of their communities.

...but work with elderly 'a beacon'

Bradford Council has been awarded “beacon” status for its work with older people.

Beacon councils are regarded as centres of excellence for certain services, help other local authorities, and promote good practice.

The Council was recognised for its work in involving older people in key decisions, and supporting and promoting greater independence and well-being in later life.

Councillor Dale Smith, the Council’s executive member for social care, said: “Being awarded beacon status is recognition of the excellent work that the Council and its partners have put in to help older people live independent lives.

“Innovations in technology mean that older people can now have greater involvement in their own assessment and care and can make informed decisions about the services they need.

“The Older People’s Partnership has been a powerful advocate for giving older people a say in what happens in their district and telling us what they think needs to be done.”

The status was announced by Communities Minister Sadiq Khan MP. He said: “Bradford Council is among the top performers in its field, setting the standard for innovation, service excellence and improvement.”

The Council was awarded beacon status for rural affairs in 2006.

People 'deserve something better'

Bradford Council has been accused of being one of the worst-performing authorities in the country by its opposition councillors.

Labour group leader Ian Greenwood was reacting to the results of the Audit Commission’s 2008 Comprehensive Performance Assessment which were revealed today.

Bradford Council has slipped to an all-time low with a two-star overall rating although it has been classed as “improving adequately”.

Coun Greenwood said: “This confirms what we’ve been saying for a long time now.

“Local residents deserve something better than being asked to pay for one of the worst-performing councils in the country.

“Councillor Hopkins owes each and every one of them an apology for the complacent, self-satisfied and self-deluded leadership that has led to this mess.

“We keep seeing grandiose plans being announced that prove to have neither substance nor delivery while at the same time they fail to provide basic services properly.

“It is particularly worrying that performance in benefits is declining at a time when demand is increasing as a result of the economic downturn.

“This is a direct result of repeated short-sighted budget cuts that have left the service without the staff needed to deliver.”

Liberal Democrat group leader, Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, has condemned the district’s education standards, blaming the “experiment” of having a private company, Education Bradford, running the district’s schools following Government intervention.

She said: “Clearly an external view of our education system still says it is not improving as fast as it should.

“We have not seen the step change which was promised by Labour’s education experiment in Bradford.

“As we move forward into a review of the contract, this must cast serious doubts on having a private contractor involved in our education service. The great experiment has failed.

“I am pleased with old people’s services. Not changing the assessment criteria for services is something that is dear to the hearts of Liberal Democrats in Bradford.”

In a statement in response to the Commission’s findings, Council leader Councillor Kris Hopkins, said: “Clearly we would have preferred to have received a better overall rating. “However, the inspectors have said that the authority is making positive progress and this is obviously to be welcomed.

“We must now work together to quicken the pace of this improvement and, come the next inspection, achieve a stronger result which more accurately reflects the quality of services we provide.”