Best ever rating for culture and leisure services

8.21.03pm GMT Sun 10th Feb 2008

• FOR the first time, libraries, arts, sport, arts and parks in Richmond upon Thames have received the highest possible rating from the Audit Commission.

In its annual Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), the Council's culture services were awarded the top four-star rating and judged to be performing strongly. Resident satisfaction with parks and open spaces is the highest in the country. The borough is also the most active in England with the highest proportion of adults taking physical exercise at least three times a week while the percentage of five to 16-year-olds playing at least two hours of high quality sport was among the highest anywhere. Cllr John Coombs, Cabinet Member for Youth, Culture and Leisure on Richmond Council, said:??" I am delighted that after two years at a three-star rating our culture services have gained the top score of four. This is an excellent result. Our arts service, through its superb outreach programme, has gained a national reputation for its work with vulnerable young people. The report also identifies that our libraries, museums and galleries are performing strongly and delivering a first-class service to residents of all ages. It is official recognition that our parks and open spaces are among the best you will find anywhere in the country. Two have already attained the prestigious Green Flag status and we hope to increase that number this year. We continue to invest in our green spaces, in Terrace and Buccleugh Gardens for example, to ensure they are safe and welcoming. I am particularly pleased at the excellent work to increase the amount of sport our children play both in and outside school, through schemes such as Competitive Edge. Encouraging residents to become active from a young age is vital if we are to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent childhood obesity. I congratulate all our staff for their hard work and determination to give our residents excellent cultural services. I also thank our partners who work closely with us to give the community access to a rich and varied choice of arts, sports and open spaces. The challenge now is to maintain these high standards and improve in areas where we can perform even better."