Lib Dem Cabinet declare intent to improve council following Audit Commission verdict

8.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 11th Jun 2007

The new, Liberal Democrat, Cabinet of Northampton Borough Council will tonight receive the Audit Commission's Annual Audit and Inspection Letter, and with it a damning verdict that the authority's persistent failure to improve over the last year has meant the Council's "weakest services remain among the worst in the country".

The letter is highly critical of the authority, reporting deterioration in some key services and states that the slow pace of change is occurring in areas with "a direct impact on quality of life for some of the most vulnerable people".

Amongst its recommendations are a need to "demonstrate improved leadership" and ensure its plans "comprehensively address" the numerous problems highlighted by the Audit Commission.

Cllr Tony Woods, newly elected Leader of the Council, will present the report at Cabinet tonight and acknowledge the findings before highlighting the changes made already by the new administration to set the authority on the road to improvement:

"We accept and acknowledge the Audit Commission's findings, which are a source of huge disappointment. We know this council continues to fail the most vulnerable people. We know improvement has been very slow. This is unacceptable and it is the top priority of the new Administration that this Council will now improve its services to the public rapidly.

"One of the key recommendations made by the Audit Commission is to demonstrate improved leadership. I believe we have already begun to do this by giving clear direction to our chief executive on the outcomes we wish to achieve in the short, medium and long term.

"We are already addressing weaknesses such as lack of capacity in finance and planning. As a result, we have already made tangible progress. We are getting a better understanding of the council's finances and can now start to address the very serious problems we are faced with.

"Despite all the bad news stories here, the Audit Commission have acknowledged the improvements already made on areas such as housing repairs and customer services. Credit is due to the staff in these areas who have worked tirelessly to achieve real benefits for their customers.

"Taking on running the Borough Council has been described as a 'poisoned chalice'. We knew it wouldn't be an easy however there is no option, we must turn this organisation around. It's a daunting prospect but we are passionate about giving this town the council it deserves and we are definitely up for the challenge."