Spelthorne Council chief lambasts government report

Spelthorne received a two out of four rating for meeting minimum requirements on performance and resource management.

Mr Tambini said: "I confess to being extremely disheartened by this assessment which has cost the taxpayers of Spelthorne an estimated £200,000.

"Despite the enormous efforts we have made both in cost and time, there is scant added value to taxpayers by this exercise. Too much attention is paid, in my view, to filling in forms and not enough of looking at the wider issues in the borough. These are that it is an area with significantly more relative deprivation than the rest of Surrey and in need of greater funding.

"Our staff time is better spent on providing quality services that matter to our residents and not on a bureaucratic, bland, and shallow exercise."

All of the local authorities in Surrey were rated, along with Surrey Police Authority, Surrey Fire and Rescue Authority, and Surrey Primary Care Trust.

Spelthorne was assessed on how they work with the police to reduce crime, which has reduced by 1,000 crimes this year to 7,000, how they engage with young people and the health service, its agenda on the environment, and how well it saves money.

For managing performance, use of resources, managing finances and governing the business the council got two out of four, but received a three for managing resources.
The report said: "The council performs adequately overall. It has made some progress to achieve its key priorities but this has been variable."

It stated that the council hasn't got enough people into sport, has not raised satisfaction of young people, is not increasing people's skills enough, and hasn't met its target for new homes.

But the report also said Spelthorne works well with the police and Surrey County Council, has improved recycling well, and saves money by doing things differently.

Mr Tambini said: "It is clearly a subjective judgement, and the council believes that significant progress has indeed been made despite difficult economic circumstances."