Maidenhead & Windsor

A Maidenhead report from the Audit Commission following last year's comprehensive performance inspection has confirmed that the Maidenhead Royal Borough is delivering good services to residents and is giving good value for money. The report results from the inspection of the council between October and mid-December 2005.

The corporate assessment measures how well Maidenhead council is working to deliver improved services and outcomes for its residents and the report shows that people in this area are benefiting from good services that have a positive impact on local communities – and that the council is working hard to make them even better. It also underlines that the cost of borough services is low when compared nationally and the council achieves good value for money.

Today (Tuesday) also sees the publication of the OFSTED Joint Area Review (JAR) report, which rates Maidenhead Royal Borough services for children as good*.

Maidenhead Council leader Cllr Mary Rose Gliksten said she welcomed the report because it acknowledged the great improvements that had been made.

She said: "After a very bad corporate assessment back in 2002 the inspectors have given us a very good rating for achievement. We are pleased that our achievements in social services, for children and young people, in planning, recycling and community safety have been recognised because these are all issues which directly touch all members of the community.

"The inspection took place a year ago in autumn 2005 – right at the start of our ambitious programme for change. We are disappointed that we have fallen into the 'adequate' category but we know we have moved on a long way since then and have put great effort into the improvements the inspectors recommended.

"We have been in discussion with the Audit Commission throughout that time so they know that we have built on the confidence they expressed in our progress in 2005."

The past year has seen:

* the introduction of an ambitious programme of change, including the opening of the customer service centre in Maidenhead and Windsor
* the launch of the borough's new strategic plan showing how the council is responding to local and national challenges and setting out how services will be developed and improved to meet the needs of residents
* continuing progress with the Local Development Framework, involving widespread consultation with the community and stakeholders
* a major restructuring of the council to put a renewed emphasis on customer needs and demands.

David Lunn, Maidenhead chief executive, said: "If the inspection were taking place now instead of last autumn the picture would be entirely different. When the inspectors arrived with us in October 2005 it was the same day as the opening of the customer service centre and the start of a massive period of change for the council. We had asked them to postpone their visit but this was not possible so their report not only reflects the council of a year ago but also does not take into account the major changes and improvements introduced since then.

"It's unfortunate too that the corporate assessment regime does not have the flexibility to reflect the individual circumstances and needs of different communities. The Royal Borough is a diverse area with multi-layers of individual towns, villages and communities with their own identities and service needs. We don't fit into a one-size-fits-all system that demands an overall vision for the borough as a whole rather than representing and reflecting the rich and varied needs of different communities.

"That said, we welcome the constructive views of the inspectors – and we look forward to their return so they can see the achievements we have made in the past year and learn more about our plans for the future."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead