A year of achievement- A Promise of More

10.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 12th May 2008

"Real improvements in the council's services to the public have been achieved." Cllr Tony Woods

A year since the Liberal Democrats took control of Northampton has been described as a year of solid achievement by Leader Cllr. Tony Woods "We inherited from the Tories a council in a mess" said Tony Woods. "A year ago Government inspectors had rated the council as one of the worst in the country, with weak political leadership, finances in a mess and failure to deliver services people have a right to expect. We said that turning the council round would take time and some difficult decisions. So it has been, but real improvements in the council's services to the public have been achieved."

Liberal Democrat Councillors have issued a statement of progress (see below link) 'A Year of Achievement' setting out in detail the achievements of the new administration.

"Three things stand out from our first year" said Tony Woods.

(1) The Council's finances are under firmer control, with no cuts in this year's budget.

(2) Day to day services such as planning, revenues and benefits, and housing management are at last showing real signs of improvement.

(3) We are setting in place firm foundations for the long term with progress on the Grosvenor centre and other key town centre projects."

"We still have a long way to go. We have yet to persuade the people of Northampton that the council is improving. People need to know that they have a town and a council they can be proud of. That will be our task in the years ahead."

Related Link:

A Year of Achievement - read our report back here.