Council has room for improvement
An independent review of public services rates Newark and Sherwood District Council as adequate.
The Audit Commission’s comprehensive area assessment, called Oneplace, looks at how a range of issues such as crime, affordable housing and people’s health are being tackled, and the prospects for improvement.
It looks at the individual performance of councils, the police and fire service and how they work together.
The Oneplace report highlights the need in Newark and Sherwood for improvements in recycling rates, the number of affordable homes, and levels of crime and anti-social behaviour.
There are four ratings — excellent, good, adequate and poor.
The previous test, the performance assessment, ranked the council as good, one place higher than adequate.
The district council says residents in Newark and Sherwood are satisfied with the service the council provides and the way it has reacted positively to the recession.
The council says residents say they are highly satisfied with services such as refuse collection, theatres and concert venues.
They think the council has reacted well to the recession by providing grants for small businesses and helping people to access the benefits they are entitled to.
They also say the area is becoming cleaner and lots of people are getting involved in cultural activities, with new leisure facilities and increased access to museums.
The chief executive, Mr Andrew Muter, said: “We are pleased with the overall assessment but acknowledge there are still some challenges that we have to work hard on.
“A kerbside collection of green/garden waste will be piloted in the new year — this will help us increase recycling levels from 26% to the next target of 33%.”
The level of crime and public perceptions about crime are issues targeted for more action. Overall crime is down by 6% across the Bassetlaw and Newark and Sherwood area, with 1,383 fewer victims of crime.
Mr Muter said: “Newark and Sherwood has the lowest level of burglary in Nottinghamshire over the last year.
“We intend to build on this achievement with the police and other partners so that we see even greater improvements in safety.”
The leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, Mr Tony Roberts, agreed that the council was falling down on some issues.
However, he said the onus was on the public to recycle more, and work was being done to increase the number of affordable homes within the district.
“The word adequate is damning with faint praise,” he said.
“As I look through this report I see more that is good than is bad.
“We were rated good just 18 months ago and we haven’t slipped that far.
“We have a 75% satisfaction or more than satisfied rate from our residents with the services that we provide for £3 a week per person.”
The county of Nottinghamshire has green flags (exceptional performance) for access to services for older people and use of public transport.
It has a red flag (significant concerns) for crime and community safety in the north of Nottinghamshire.
The Oneplace report says the county council is good at understanding what the county and the people who live in it need, and is improving many of the things that are important to it.
For more information go to www.direct.gov.uk/oneplace