County Council Gets Star Treatment
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People in Somerset are getting four-star treatment from their County Council according to independent inspectors who have awarded it their highest accolade.
The four star rating was awarded in recognition of the excellent standard of service Somerset County Council provides for its 512,000 residents, ranking the County Council among the best in the country.
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It is the result of Somerset County Council's latest Comprehensive Performance Assessment by the Audit Commission, an independent government body.
As part of the Assessment, the Commission scrutinised the way that the County Council is run and how its services are performing, as well as the value for money that it is providing for residents.
The Commission's report praised Somerset County Council for providing many high quality services, including its excellent services in adult social care, support for children with disabilities, and award winning environmental work.
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The Youth Service was also rated as outstanding and a role model for best practice, and is one of only two authorities to receive the highest possible rating.
The progress that Somerset County Council has made in improving services and implementing its future plans was also assessed, and found to be 'Improving well'. The County Council was also praised for actively using feedback to focus its efforts in improving performance in areas that people say are important.
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The four star rating lends weight to Somerset County Council's pursuit of a new single-tier or unitary system of government for all of Somerset, which will help to create conditions to improve the consistency and quality of services across the county.
Examples of achievements that make Somerset County Council a four star authority:
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Household Waste Recycling Centres have the highest recycling rate in the UK at 72%;
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Somerset's 6,580 km of highway are now amongst the best maintained in the country;
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There are 21 schools designated as dyslexia-friendly and a further 74 are working towards accreditation;
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Somerset's overall crime figures have been decreasing consistently since 2001 - in 2005/06, Somerset was experiencing crime rates far below regional and national crime rates;
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Adult Social Care Service is one of the best in the country, receiving the maximum rating from the Commission for Social Care Inspection; and
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Somerset County Council secured a stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race for the county, benefiting the economy and putting Somerset on the map.
Alan Jones, Somerset County Council's Chief Executive, said:
"We are delighted with this judgment of our performance. It is an external and independent recognition of the huge improvements that we have made in our services and community partnerships, the leadership and management of the whole organisation and the value for money that we offer to our taxpayers.
" Four years ago the Council was rated as 'fair' (or average) amongst other councils. Our objective was to raise our game to 'excellent', which was then the top category. We moved up to a 'good' authority but our progress to 'excellent' was delayed while the national framework for assessment was being revised.
" The new model, named by the Audit Commission as The Harder Test, only applies to County and Unitary Councils. To receive the top category of four stars in The Harder Test shows just how far we have come, and is a major accolade for our staff, councillors and stakeholder groups who are now beyond excellence - they are exemplary."
Cllr Cathy Bakewell, Leader of Somerset County Council, added:
"This report is an independent endorsement of Somerset County Council's ability to provide the community with the best possible services at the best possible value.
"Our journey from Fair to Good and now to Excellent, with a four star rating, is testimony to the fact that, as an organisation, we are increasingly becoming more in tune with the wishes of taxpayers. It is the result of the enthusiasm, commitment, hard work and dedication of all of Somerset County Council's staff and councillors.
"However, we will not be complacent or rest on our laurels. We will continue to strive for improvement and excellence in the work that we do."
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The Audit Commission is the independent Government body that ensures public money is spent economically, efficiently and effectively. |
The Comprehensive Performance Assessment pulls together results from a range of different assessments carried out by the Audit Commission and other inspectorates to provide a complete picture of how well each council is doing.
The assessments look at:
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How the County Council manages its finance and provides value for money;
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How its main services are performing; and
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How the Council is run as a corporate body.
The scores are then coupled with an assessment of the council’s overall 'Direction of Travel' to arrive at a star rating of between 0-4.
To find out more about the Audit Commission, visit their website at www.audit-commission.gov.uk.
Examples of why Somerset County Council has been awarded four stars by The Audit Commission:
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Partnership for Older Persons Project
Somerset is one of only 19 Local Authorities to be given funding by the Department of Health (DOH) to help older people stay active and healthy, and have more say on what happens in their local community. POPP is a Somerset County Council led partnership with the voluntary and statutory sector who makes it easier for people to find out about and use local services. The will be informal drop-in centres located in a verity of existing locations such as sheltered housing schemes, community centres and village halls. The plan is to have developing 50 centres by the end of two years (April 2008).
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Connecting Somerset
The Connecting Somerset project was set up in spring 2005 to help businesses make the most of Broadband and IT. It provides advice and grants for Somerset businesses and so far over 1,000 businesses of all sizes have benefited. Two years ago, Somerset had the poorest broadband service in the region and now, with Somerset County Council and partners help, it is now the best connected county in the region.
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Minehead Station Site Regeneration
The Minehead Station Site is a mixed use physical regeneration scheme of land in Somerset County Council (SCC) ownership in a strategic location in the centre of Minehead. The scheme has involved a public engagement process to develop a shared vision for the site and is now set to comprise business workplace, public realm improvements, car parking for the railway and a new railway turntable.
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Somerset Biofuel
This is a flagship project spearheading the use of bioethanol in the UK and involved a number of partners, co-ordintaed by Somerset county Council. The project achieved its initial target of five E85 fuelling stations, 35 FFVs in local fleets and planning consent has been granted for 100,000 tonne bioethanol production plant in Somerset.
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SCYS
The Somerset County Youth Service (SCYS) is very good value for money and provides a model of best practice both strategically and operationally. Young people make a very good contribution to decision making, including in their local communities, and respond very well to leadership opportunities. Excellent partnerships increase the opportunities for young people and the wide range of provision ensures good outcomes for young people, including those from vulnerable groups. For example, the Bridgwater Special Needs Activities Project (SNAP) was identified as outstanding. SNAP members speak with pride about making an anti-bullying video, performing in a talent show and composing their own poems and music.
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