The Association for Public Service Excellence
Streets ahead in North East Derbyshire District Council!
North East Derbyshire District Council has made local government history by becoming the first Council in England and Wales to make the impressive leap from a ‘Weak’ to an ‘Excellent’ performing authority. The achievement was made public on the 20 May following the publication of a report by the Audit commission which has rated the Council as ‘excellent’ following a Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) inspection in January.
The last time the Council underwent a CPA inspection in 2004 it was judged to be ‘Weak’. Amongst it’s significant service improvements the Council’s street scene services underwent a series of improvements and here North East Derbyshire Chief Executive, Prof Lee Adams explains the outcomes they have achieved.
Cleanliness - The local need
One of the Council’s key ambitions is to create a cleaner, greener and more attractive environment. However, in order to achieve these ambitions the Council recognised the need for additional investment in its Street Scene services. In 2004 our cleanliness standards saw 31% of our streets falling below category C when measured under the Local Environment Quality Surveys.
The Vision
In order to achieve its ambitions and improve cleanliness standards the Council in 2004/5 invested an extra £125,000 in street cleansing services by taking on three extra compact and sub-compact sweepers and three employees to drive them.
The challenge
In 2004 the Council also reviewed the way it carried out street cleansing services and moved to a pre-targeted system similar to methods used in grounds maintenance. The district was split into four geographic zones with dedicated resources in each. This empowered the Street Cleansing teams to take ownership of their own patches.
The results
Street cleansing has now improved to the extent that only 6% of streets fall below cleanliness standards – a 25% increase in cleanliness standards over the past three years. The Council is now in the top quartile for street cleansing performance. Public satisfaction with cleanliness has increased from 71% in 2003 to 73% in 2006. An inspection of Environmental Services in 2006 ranked the service as Fair with promising prospects of improvement.
The grounds maintenance team were 2005 finalists in the APSE annual awards. The team contribute to the the high maintenance standards in the district and contributed to public satisfaction levels.
Our twice a year weed-spraying programme also makes a significant impact on the level of cleanliness on our streets and helped boost public satisfaction levels.
Fly tipping has been reduced by 9% with 96% of fly tipped waste removed within five days.
The Council’s grounds maintenance team is responsible for laying out flower beds in the town of Dronfield. The town won a Silver Medal in East Midlands in Bloom 2007. The judged praised the bedding displays and high standard of street cleanliness.
Where to next?
The Council is constantly reviewing how it provides services in order to ensure the most effective and efficient use of its resources.
We are currently reviewing grounds maintenance arrangements undertaken for parish and town councils and intend to reduce the amount of subsidy from 60% to zero over the next three years. The Council currently spends £340,000 a year on the maintenance – the savings will be used to enhance other services provided by the Council.
Two new civic amenity sites are being developed to serve the south of the District.
Working with partners in the North East of the county, the Council has been instrumental in securing £4m to fund a composting plant with the intention of pushing our recycling levels to more than 50% within a year of commission.
The Evening Telegraph
Council in Four-Year Turnaround
A COUNCIL classified as "weak" by auditors four years ago has made a dramatic turnaround to receive the highest rating of "excellent".
The Audit Commission says North East Derbyshire District Council is the first authority in England and Wales to make such a leap.
It reports that since a new chief executive and leader have come in and a new management team formed, the council has improved its leadership.
There are five ratings - poor, weak, fair, good and excellent. The council was rated "weak" due to a lack of long-term vision. Now the commission says the council has clear objectives and priorities.
The report states: "Satisfaction levels are good with performance in the top 25% of councils for the council overall, from applicants with the planning service, with cleanliness, with complaint handling and with sports and leisure facilities."
The Audit Commission says North East Derbyshire District Council is the first authority in England and Wales to make such a leap.
It reports that since a new chief executive and leader have come in and a new management team formed, the council has improved its leadership.
There are five ratings - poor, weak, fair, good and excellent. The council was rated "weak" due to a lack of long-term vision. Now the commission says the council has clear objectives and priorities.
The report states: "Satisfaction levels are good with performance in the top 25% of councils for the council overall, from applicants with the planning service, with cleanliness, with complaint handling and with sports and leisure facilities."
The Yorkshire Post
Council rating soars from 'weak' to 'excellent'
STAFF at North East Derbyshire District Council have made local government history after being awarded an "excellent" rating by inspectors just four years after being branded "weak".
Government spending watchdog the Audit Commission today released its latest Comprehensive Performance Assessment for the authority following an inspection in January this year.
The weak verdict was delivered in 2004, and this year's results show that the council is the first ever in England and Wales to move from a weak to an excellent position in just one leap.
Council leader Graham Baxter, who took over the leadership in 2004, said: "This is a tremendous result for us and a vindication of all the hard work from staff and members that has gone on over the past four years.
"To go straight from weak to excellent is a first for any local authority in England and Wales and it is an achievement we are very proud of.
"The past few years have been challenging ones for us and we have had to take some tough decisions along the way. However, we have never swerved from our ambition to provide first class, value for money services to our citizens and we are delighted that the CPA
judgment has endorsed our efforts."
Key features highlighted in the report include the council's increase in recycling rates from 11 per cent to 42 per cent and the use of new anti-social behaviour powers which have cut crime rates.
The council's chief executive, Lee Adams, who joined the authority in October 2006, said: "I am absolutely delighted for everyone at the council and also for local people who can be confident now that they have a council that is rated as excellent."
The weak verdict was delivered in 2004, and this year's results show that the council is the first ever in England and Wales to move from a weak to an excellent position in just one leap.
Council leader Graham Baxter, who took over the leadership in 2004, said: "This is a tremendous result for us and a vindication of all the hard work from staff and members that has gone on over the past four years.
"To go straight from weak to excellent is a first for any local authority in England and Wales and it is an achievement we are very proud of.
"The past few years have been challenging ones for us and we have had to take some tough decisions along the way. However, we have never swerved from our ambition to provide first class, value for money services to our citizens and we are delighted that the CPA
judgment has endorsed our efforts."
Key features highlighted in the report include the council's increase in recycling rates from 11 per cent to 42 per cent and the use of new anti-social behaviour powers which have cut crime rates.
The council's chief executive, Lee Adams, who joined the authority in October 2006, said: "I am absolutely delighted for everyone at the council and also for local people who can be confident now that they have a council that is rated as excellent."
The Derbyshire Times
Council staff are being rewarded with an extra five days holiday this year after the authority achieved a "tremendous" result in Government watchdog performance ratings.
North East Derbyshire District Council was graded 'excellent' by the Audit Commission in an inspection report – becoming the first local authority in the country to improve from 'weak' in one step.
The authority which achieved the highest rating available was said to have made "significant progress" since its 2004 Comprehensive Performance Assessment.
Chief executive Lee Adams said the result was a team effort and all council staff would be rewarded with an extra five days holiday this year and a party on Friday evening.
Cllr Graham Baxter, NE Derbyshire District Council leader, said: "This is a tremendous result for us and a vindication of all the hard work from staff and members that has gone on over the past four years.
"To go straight from weak to excellent is a first for any local authority in England and Wales and it is an achievement we are very proud of.
"The past few years have been challenging ones for us and we have had to take some tough decisions along the way."
The council was praised for strong managerial and political leadership, listening to its customers, street cleanliness, increased recycling rates, and work with partners to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
Audit Commission senior manager Andrew Blackburn said: "The council has made significant progress since its last CPA inspection. It delivers improving services, both directly, and in partnership. This is recognised by local residents and reflected in good satisfaction levels."
Two areas requiring improvement were highlighted in the report – the need to consult more effectively with all sections of the community and the need to develop more effective ways of measuring the success of partnership working.
Lee Adams, NE Derbyshire District Council's chief executive, said immediate priorities included supporting arms-length housing managers Rykneld Homes' bid to achieve a two star Audit Commission rating – attracting £60m funding – and working with the Primary Care Trust to address issues including teenage pregnancy and obesity in the district.
The Municipal Journal
District soars from ‘weak to excellent’
North East Derbyshire DC has become the first council in England and Wales to go straight from ‘weak’ to ‘excellent’ as local authorities gear themselves up for the final CPA furlong.
Audit commission inspectors announced last week the local authority was now an ‘excellent’ authority, after being rated as ‘weak’ when last judged in 2004.
A commission report praised the council for its effective partnership working, strong leadership and improving services. The council won The MJ’s Transforming Public Services award last year.
‘This is a tremendous result and a vindication of all the hard work from staff and members that has gone on over the past four years,’ said council leader Graham Baxter. ‘To go straight from weak to excellent is a first for any authority in England and Wales and is an achievement we are proud of.’
Councils have now got just six more months of the rating system, with the final block of results expected to the published on 13 January 2009.
The new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) programme, which replaces CPA, will start in April 2009.
Wyre BC has now been rated ‘good’ by inspectors, after previously being judged ‘weak’ in 2004. ‘It has improved its engagement with the local community and developed a wide range of partnerships with organisations in the private, health and voluntary sectors,’ said Audit Commission senior manager, Mike Thomas.
Writing in this week in The MJ, Tony Blair’s former political secretary, Robert Hill, said local government can still try harder when it comes to efficiency gains.
Mr Hill said councils need to ‘move away from seeing efficiency as an imposed target from central government to it being part of the core business of how the public sector operates.’
