Council improves for third year in a row - Audit Commission

8.30.24pm GMT Sun 10th Feb 2008

The Audit Commission has delivered another positive verdict on the performance of Richmond Council.

The annual Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) score card released this week shows Richmond to be a three star authority which is improving well. It is the third year in a row that the council has been judged to be improving with 75% of performance indicators better than they were this time last year. Many of the most important scores now stand at four out of a possible four including value for money and the quality of service provided for children and young people. Commenting on the score Cllr Serge Lourie, Leader of Richmond Council, said:

"This is a good result which confirms that we are continuing to improve our services across the board - and it shows that we get better every year. Our aim is to be an excellent council and this year's score is more evidence that we are getting there. There are now a number of services where we are achieving the maximum score. Last year's Joint Area Review (JAR) for Children and Young People's service was the best we have ever had - quite simply outstanding. And our Cultural, Benefits and Housing Services all now score the maximum four out of four as well, while our Adult Social Services have continued to improve with a three star score last year being our best ever. I am particularly pleased that we have been given top marks for the Value for Money we provide. This is a vital score for us. As a borough that gets a lousy funding deal from the government we really need to make every pound we spend count. For the second year in succession that is exactly what the Audit Commission has said we are doing. This year we could have been named a four star authority - I really believe it was that close. But there are still one or two areas where we need to raise our game. In the meantime I would like to thank all of our staff and partners who work so hard to ensure that we keep improving the services we provide for local people."