Liverpool City Council is “performing well”, according to a new independent assessment by the Audit Commission.
The grading - equivalent to getting three out of four stars - is part of the new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA).
It means the city has gone from being ranked as one star (poor) to doing well in less than two years - making it one of the most improved in the country, despite a tougher inspection regime in the areas of resources and children’s services.
Council leader Warren Bradley said: “Two years ago we embarked on a fundamental root and branch reform of the council, and today’s judgment demonstrates that we have made significant improvements in the way the council is being run.
“Many of the front line services that we deliver have been steadily improving for many years, but more recently we have worked really hard on improving value for money and concentrating our spending in priority areas.”
Inspectors found that the council:
• Has improved the way it runs itself and is addressing previous weaknesses
• Manages its finances better and has improved the way it commissions services
• Has a clear vision for the future based around its core aims
• Works well on issues like health and employment
Councillor Bradley added: “If you look right across the whole range of council services, whether it’s education, social services, parks and environment or benefits, there is absolutely no doubt that we are now serving the people of the city well.
“But I am not complacent and we clearly have more to do to achieve our ambition of becoming an excellent authority. However, I am confident that with the clear leadership and vision from both senior councillors and officers working with our staff and partner organisations, we will make further improvements.”
The report praises the council for its “major success” in growing the economy through initiatives such as Liverpool One, Liverpool Science Park, the Capital of Culture title and the Arena and Convention Centre.
It also highlights the “excellent” rating for adult social care by the Care Quality Commission, and the fact that OFSTED has continued to grade children’s services as “performing well” - despite a tougher inspection regime nationally following the Baby Peter case.
Work with partner organisations such as Liverpool PCT to reduce health inequalities - such as free Lifestyles leisure passes for under 17s and over 60s – is noted, along with improvements in educational attainment which have seen the city bettering the national average for GCSE results.
Council Chief Executive Colin Hilton said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff for their hard work and dedication in helping us achieve so much over the last two years.
“We have some of the best people in local government here in Liverpool who are completely focused on meeting our aims of growing the economy, developing our communities and empowering our residents.”
Liverpool’s report can be found on the Oneplace website at: http://oneplace.direct.gov.uk/liverpool
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