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Audit Commission praises EHDC performance and value for money

Monday 18th of May 2009

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The Audit Commission, the national agency that assesses local government, has praised East Hampshire District Council in its annual health-check.

Noting that the council has frozen its share of council tax at 2006 levels, the latest ‘Annual Audit and Inspection Letter' says: "The Council is achieving and improving value for money in key services. It achieves good performance with lower costs, when compared to others, in its planning, benefits and council tax services. It has one of the lowest waste collection volumes and highest percentage of planning applications decided within the target time."

Kelvin Pattison, the Audit Commission's lead for Hampshire districts, said: "This is a positive report because we are pleased with East Hampshire's progress this year. The council has made good progress against its priorities and has a robust range of plans to drive further improvement."

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Chief executive Will Godfrey said: "I welcome this independent and challenging assessment of the council's performance. It clearly shows that we have steadily improved performance across the board over the last few years. To be commended so warmly by the Audit Commission is a superb achievement and is due to the hard work and dedication of staff and councillors."

In the letter, the commission highlights the council's good performance in:

• supporting the local community through grants to local charities and clubs, its active lifestyles campaign and the Christmas Festival
• reducing crime and disorder through its partnership with the police and other agencies
• recycling, with satisfaction and take-up of this service among the country's top performers
• providing effective customer service
• its speed in dealing with planning applications and the low level of appeals
• exceeding its targets for delivering affordable housing
• meeting efficiency targets and reducing spending wherever possible

The commission also commended how the council is managing the major Whitehill Bordon green town vision and eco-town bid.

The letter outlined some areas where the council needs to improve, including:

• the number of private sector homes that remain vacant for more than six months
• the speed of dealing with complaints
• recovery of benefits overpayments and the time taken to process new claims
• improving satisfaction and cost of waste collection
• completing equality impact assessments across all its services

Will Godfrey added: "There are always improvements to be made, and we have firm plans in place to make them. I am confident that future assessments will recognise the continuing story of improvement and achievement that is going on in East Hampshire."

The Audit Commission's letter can be found on its website: www.audit-commission.gov.uk.