Wandsworth Council Gets Four Stars

---

Audit Commission inspection team say service is ‘performing strongly’.

The London Borough of Wandsworth is ‘performing strongly’ according to an independent report released today by the Audit Commission.

The report found that Wandsworth is a business-like and consistently high-performing council. It is very successful at delivering a wide range of high quality services at low cost. Its stable and strong councillor and officer leadership, robust financial management, good involvement of residents and effective performance management provide a strong foundation for delivery.  Its achievements are best in those areas which matter the most to local people such as crime and the quality of the environment.

Well-established work across services and with partners means that the Council has an integrated approach to improving the well-being of its communities. Its focus on developing the five local town centres addresses a range of issues such as local employment, reduced travel and improved community cohesion. However the Council needs to involve its partners more fully in the identification of joint longer-term aims for the area.

Claire Bryce-Smith, Audit Commission Relationship Manager, said:

‘Wandsworth is successfully providing high quality services to residents at low cost. Because of this Wandsworth is an increasingly prosperous and cohesive community which retains the local character and services of its five town centres. Residents are very satisfied with their Council.‘

Corporate assessment is one element of the wider inspection framework for single tier and county councils known as comprehensive performance assessment (CPA). Wandsworth Council is rated as a 4 star council following publication of the Audit Commission's CPA results earlier this month. Wandsworth was one of only four single tier and county councils to achieve 4 stars and improving strongly for the third year in a row.

Council leader Edward Lister said: "This is the latest in a long line of corporate healthchecks that have given the council a perfect bill of health. No other council in the country has come close to matching our achievements across the board.

"This council will continue to focus its efforts on meeting the needs and aspirations of its residents, by providing excellent schools, leisure facilities, housing and safer streets to protecting the local environment, reducing disadvantage, caring for the elderly and vulnerable and increasing wellbeing."

"Residents can also rest assured that we will go on providing these top quality services at an affordable value for money price. This as the inspectors rightly pointed out in their latest report is 'The Wandsworth Way'."

February 28, 2008