Dec 12, 2009
NEWS Corporate Assessment findings ‘very worrying’ on crime and neighbourhoods
Commenting on the release of the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) and Organisational Assessment report on Reading Borough Council, Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat group spokesperson on Communities & Neighbourhoods and prospective MP for Reading East, said:
“The Assessment’s findings on crime and neighbourhoods are very worrying. It shows that Reading Borough Council is still doing far too little listening. The work on the Thriving Neighbourhoods programme to tackle inequality in Reading’s most deprived areas is absolutely critical to get right.
“Much work remains to be done both to tackle crime itself and residents’ perceptions and fears about crime. Warnings about joint working are not new: they just serve to emphasise that work with Housing Associations and other bodies could be much strengthened.”
The CAA report shows a satisfaction rate of only 40% with Reading Borough Council – below the 47% national average. The Council is also scoring below average on residents feeling they have the ability to influence decisions in their area.
