Mar 7, 2009
Reading Borough Council is Going Backwards Under Labour
The Audit Commission, the independent regulator of local councils has today published it’s annual report on the performance of Reading Borough Council.
The latest independent assessment “scoreboard” demonstrates that Reading Borough Council is now moving backwards under Labour control.
Poor scores on a range of measures have meant that Reading remains an average or “three star” authority – but instead of being deemed by the Audit Commision in its Comprehensive Performance Assessment as “performing well”, it is now only “performing adequately”.
The Council has been marked down on:-
- Public satisfaction on clean streets
- Failure to tackle empty homes – despite Liberal Democrat pressure
- A worsening performance in Culture & Sport and child protection.
Commenting, Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat group leader on Reading Borough Council and Parliamentary campaigner for Reading East, says:-
“This report shows that Reading Council is not just coasting under Labour – it’s starting to go backwards. The danger signs are clear and listed, and we have raised them in public. If Labour remain unwilling to tackle them, then they should step aside as an administration.
Reading Borough Council under Labour has been high tax for average services. The cross-party review group proposed by the Lib Dems will help deliver better value for money for local residents.
Unfortunately, the Conservatives in Reading have spent the Budget process demonstrating that they are unfit to run a whelk stall let alone the Council”.
Commenting on the news that Wokingham Council’s rating has slipped from 3 to 2 stars, Gareth says:-
“This is a reflection of the incompetent and secretive way the Conservatives have been and continue to run Wokingham. My constituents in Woodley rightly have had enough Tory trouble”.
Editor’s Notes:
Click here to view Reading BC and Wokingham BC 2008 scores .
