Tory run Gloucester City Council is underperforming says Audit Commission (Jeremy Hilton)

Tory run Gloucester City Council is underperforming says Audit Commission

January 2, 2010 9:07 AM

Gloucester City Council led by the Tories is underperforming when compared to Liberal Democrat run Cheltenham Borough Council.

This is the result of an Organisational Assessment carried out by the Audit Commission on all local authorities in the country.

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Jeremy Hilton has tabled a motion for debate at the city council calling for swift action to improve performance

The motion reads:-

1. That this council notes with great disappointment the poor scores awarded to this council for its organisational assessment by the Audit Commission.

2. This council expresses particular concern about the 1 out of 4 score for managing resources, which the Audit Commission said does not meet minimum requirements. The council it says performs poorly.

3. The council calls on the cabinet to bring forward plans to improve the performance of the council to achieve an Audit Commission organisational assessment that surpasses that of other district councils in Gloucestershire.

In a statement to the press, Jeremy Hilton said: "The Organisational Assessment carried out by the Audit Commission put the city council in the bottom 42% of local authorities. Gloucester has been described by the Audit Commission as a council that delivers adequate value for money and manages performance adequately. It scored badly with a 1 out of 4 for managing resources. The Audit Commission has particularly highlighted that there are 5,200 households on the waiting list for an affordable home.

"The Conservatives have been in power now for 5 years, and from my observations they are tired and exhausted and no longer have the energy lead the council. They have run out of ideas and determination as identified in the poor result from the Organisation Assessment. The cabinet are complacent about their own performance and this should worry the people of Gloucester.

"Gloucester particularly performs badly when we compare the rating received by similar sized local authority, Cheltenham Borough Council. The Audit Commission praised the Lib Dem run Cheltenham Council saying it exceeds minimum requirements and performs well with a 3 out of 4 rating."

"My six point action plan is as follows:-

1. The Lib Dem Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee has already put the matter on the agenda of the next committee meeting so that members can question officers and cabinet members about the Audit Commission's Organisational Assessment.

2. There is a need for a change in the council's administration to bring energy and inspiration to a new cabinet, but we shall have to wait for the outcome of the elections on May 6th.

3. We must learn from other councils how they are improving services.

4. We must tackle the big service issues raised in the Audit Commission's report that is providing more affordable housing to rent and improving the 49% of the council's own housing stock that fails to meet the Decent Homes standard. Liberal Democrats would set much tougher targets than the Tories.

5. We must hone in and tackle the greatest weakness, which is the council's management of its own resources, with accurate reporting of performance and management plans that deliver improved service delivery.

6. Lib Dems supported the appointment of the new chief executive and his new directorate structure, but we feel a Liberal Democrat run council would provide a new cabinet with bundles of energy that would assist him better and deliver stronger focus that would make Gloucester a better council to the benefit of people of this city."