Shropshire’s two biggest councils are among the best performing in the country.
For the fifth year running Telford & Wrekin Council has been given the highest four-star rating from the local government watchdog. Shropshire County Council has also been awarded the top rating - for the fourth consecutive year.
It is also one of just 13 to receive the prestigious citation of “improving strongly” and one of only four to gain such recognition for the third year running.
In its annual Comprehensive Performance Assessment the Audit Commission says county council service costs in education and social care are among the lowest nationally while performance indicators for education and social care are among the best this year.
Value for money has been improved and access to services has been improved dramatically with the introduction of a Customer Service Centre.
County council chief executive, Carolyn Downs, said: “These results are great news for the council, but even better news for the people of Shropshire who can be confident that we are continuing to provide them with some of the best and most highly rated services in the country, whilst also offering outstanding value for money.”
The Audit Commission says Telford & Wrekin Council has strong operational and financial plans. It also has strong officers and members and a robust performance management system which ensures targets and priorities are met.
It says the council continues to deliver high-performing services with one of the lowest council taxes in the Midlands and the lowest in Shropshire for the 10th year.
Council Leader, Andrew Eade, said: “This is a very good achievement for which all council staff should be congratulated. These are exciting times for Telford and Wrekin and it’s encouraging to see external recognition that we continue to provide good services and value for money.”
Out of 149 of the main English councils, 55 achieved the top rating of four stars, 68 got three and 23 received two stars.
16 Comments
Unitary Councils or those going for Unitary are allperforming well regardless of what really happens.
They all get that bit extra funding as an incentive to go for regionalisation.
If that is the case why has Stoke On Tent always been rated so poorly? Why has Herefordshire lost a star? Not everything is about regionalisation John.
So the watchdog of a fundamentally incompetnet government says that the slaves to the government, the councils who implement whatever ludicrous policies the government dreams up, are performing well.
The road system wrecked by T&W, the failing schools, the fear of venturing out after dark, the poor leisure facilities are indications of good performance.
Time to wake up and smell the coffee people !!
I’d hate to see the worst-performing…
You are only as good as what you are measured against – In this case the measures must be weak or irrelevant to local people. Telford and Wrekin Council are on a good day POOR performers.
I made a complaint to T&W in December about the evening bus services (which they subsidise with OUR money) not running to timetable!
I spoke to a female traveline employee who promised that I would get a call back from a manager after Christmas as they were all on holiday. It is now February and I am still waiting!
Telford & Wrekin is a joke especially when it comes to their complaints procedures. This is the third valid complaint made to different Telford & Wrekin departments in recent years that has effectively been ignored.
Unfortunately like most working people I do not have the time to continually chase them over these matters and the result T&W’s public services are in tatters!
Four Stars - pfft I think not!!!
Peter
If you have ever had experience of some other councils, you would know that actually Shropshire County Council IS one of the best in the country. Having lived on the South Coast and in Central and Greater London the services we get here in one of the poorest-funded areas (per capita) of the country is really good. And before you say, I AM a Salopian born and bred - and understand this area well.
If anything Shropshire County Council could just do with listening a little bit more to the people of the county…but otherwise they are doing a great job - well done.
Grey,
Whenever there are “knocks” against Telford & Wrekin there is always a lone voice like your self who doesn’t give their name and it’s anyone’s bet that you work for them. But look around you , you seem to be standing alone, people can see through the transparency, the days are numbered for these uncaring councils.
Whoever makes these awards obviously has not heard of the school closures - or seen the state of the roads in and around Newport.
As “Persona” has found out, T&W’s complaints procedure is an organisation dedicated to wasting time - not doing anything constructive.
Nil Points!
BJH
Performing well?!!!! Something the people of Shropshire can have confidence in?
Carolyn Downs, are you sure you are talking about Shropshire County Council? The same council that proposed mass closure of rural schools?
Was this 4 star rating selective in what it measured?
What a bunch of moaners!! Im with Danni, you go and live in some other areas IE Stoke and see how poor your services could be. WE live in a great county and i have to say ( personally ) have never had a problem with my dealings with the council whatsoever. Keep up the good work !
Danni and Steve R,
Obviously you don’t have children at any of the rural schools targeted by this council for closure! Lucky for you that you haven’t got to experience the true extent to which this council ignores the views of its people, and fabricates information to suit its aim!
If you do have children at any of Shropshire’s schools (primary or secondary)…watch out, this council has only just begun…….
I live in rural Shropshire and my children attend a very good rural school, I am very happy with my lot.
Jake
As I said…’Obviously you don’t have children at any of the rural schools TARGETED by this council for closure!
Try going on to telfordcouncilwatch.org if you want to hear some true facts about what the councils get up to
Brian (2), actually Grey is my name, well my nickname. FYI I don’t work for T&W, I do try to stay informed however. I try to understand both sides of the arguments and if as you say I’m standing alone, surely it is a good thing to present a different POV from the masses. Otherwise we might as well all just be sheep.