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Council has improved says watchdog
Jun 24, 2008
LEADERS of Teesdale District Council have praised the “dedication of staff” after independent inspectors said the authority had improved.
The council was given a fair rating from the Audit Commission following an inspection earlier this year.
The authority jumped two categories after being classified a poor council in 2004.
“A lot of hard work has been undertaken over the past four years by staff and councillors to improve the way the council functions,” said Councillor Richard Betton, leader of the council.
“We were praised for our partnership work with regard to health, tourism and businesses, and improvements in the way we use our resources and demonstrate community leadership and decision-making.”
The Audit Commission said the council must not let standards fall in the run up to the creation of a single unitary authority for County Durham next spring.
Teesdale District Council will be scrapped on March 31.
Deputy leader of the council Madeleine Walton said: “Lesson have been learnt all along and it’s because of the tremendous effort and dedication that everyone has put in that we received the rating.
“There has been immense changes at the council and some of them have been extremely good and we have improved in all areas. The important thing is to keep the momentum as we move into a new era.”
Cllr Watson said she believed the council fell only just short of being given an excellent rating.
The audit commission said the council responded to residents' concerns over street cleanliness.
The report said: “Services such as bulky waste collection are clearly designed to suit local needs and tackle the remoteness of many households.”
The authority was also praised for its tourism and health initiatives.
The report added: “The council is strongly committed to understanding the needs of all local communities and has improved its response to the needs of gypsies and travellers, and young people”
Inspectors said the attendance and contribution of councillors at partnership groups should be improved, along with “the shortcomings of the scrutiny function”.