That’s the conclusion of an independent council watchdog report on the main services provided by the Council.
Local authorities up and down the country are receiving their annual ‘comprehensive performance assessment’ scores from the Audit Commission this week. But the difference this year is that the overall assessment is much tougher, making it harder for councils to chalk up good scores for their services.
Council Leader Peter Jones said the Council’s overall score of three stars out of four is a real achievement especially with a tougher assessment framework and tight financial position faced by the County Council. "To get independent confirmation that we are providing good services and improving our performance is good news. The result is even more impressive when you consider that we have had a succession of very poor council grant settlements from central Government. If the budget trend continues we’ll find it much harder to maintain our good performance.”
Councillor Jones praised the work of staff and said that they are one of the main reasons why the Council had received a good report. "Our staff deserve a big thank you for their hard work and dedication. They are delivering good services for our residents and this has been recognised by the Audit Commission.”
The Audit Commission says the County Council has a clear vision of what it wants to achieve and a track record of improving services. It says the Council manages its finances and other resources well, provides good value for money and has a culture focused on efficiency and productivity gains.
The Commission report also states that:
- the Council manages its resources well and has successfully attracted additional external funding for older people’s services and economic regeneration to support service improvements
- Children’s Services in East Sussex have improved, particularly in education and in meeting the needs of looked after children
- waste management and transport services show improvement
- the Council has made some improvement in providing services to meet the needs of different communities
- improving social services for adults’ remains a challenge which is recognised. It says the Council is working with health partners to try to improve more quickly and modernise care services for elderly and vulnerable people.
Reference:
788
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