News in Ealing
May 2007
Council praised for significant improvements to performance and partnership work
Ealing Council is 'ambitious' and 'performing well' according to a new report released by the Audit Commission.
The independent watchdog awarded a score of three out of a maximum of four to the Council in its Corporate Assessment (CA), following an inspection earlier this year.
The Corporate Assessment judges how the Council engages with and leads its communities, delivers community priorities in partnership with others, and ensures continuous improvement across the range of Council activities.
The CA inspectors found that: "the Council is performing well and consistently above minimum requirements. The Council is ambitious and with its partners has set a challenging vision for the borough, which responds well to the needs of residents".
The CA results were released at the same time as the Council's Joint Area Review (JAR), a multi-agency inspection of services for children and their families. The JAR inspectors also awarded a score of three out of a maximum of four, concluding that Ealing provides 'good' support to ensure children and young people achieve their full potential.
Ealing Council Chief Executive Darra Singh said: "The Corporate Assessment is a positive endorsement of the significant improvements that have been made by Ealing Council.
"Inspectors have acknowledged the strength of our partnership work, our priorities and commitment to delivering quality services to our residents.
"We will take on board the inspectors' recommendations and use them to drive forward further improvements."
The assessment found:
· Priorities respond well to local needs and national
priorities and there is particular clarity and purposefulness about
the Council's three short-term priorities of cleaner streets, safer
communities and value for money
· Partnership working is developing well. Many
partners note that the Council has become a more proactive and
effective partner in the last 18 months
· The Council is providing good community
leadership
· Political and managerial leadership is good
· The Council's approach to diversity is good. There is
regular consultation with representatives of BME communities and
responsiveness to their needs
· The Council is good at securing value for money.
Council Leader Jason Stacey said: "I am pleased with the results of the Corporate Assessment as they show that the Council is on the right track and is responding to the needs of residents. Along with our partners, we have an ambitious vision for improving the borough and I am confident that if we continue to work together we will be able to deliver it."
ENDS
Notes for Editors
- The results of the Corporate Assessment and Joint Area
Review form part of Ealing Council's Comprehensive Performance
Assessment (CPA), which is used to measure the performance of all
councils. The CPA measures how well a council is managed, how
effectively it works with partners and what it has achieved over
two to three years.
- Full details of Ealing's Corporate Assessment are
available at
www.audit-commission.gov.uk
