Audit Commission

Bassetlaw District Council provides 'good' access to its services, with 'promising prospects' for improvement, according to an independent report released today by the Audit Commission.

On a scale from zero to three stars the Audit Commission inspection team gave the Council a 'good' two-star rating for the way it enables people to access its services. Local people can get help and advice through one-stop shops in Worksop and Retford as well as a network of rural 'help points'. The Council also consults residents to help ensure that services meet their needs.

Stephen Barnett, Audit Commission senior manager, said:
'Bassetlaw District Council is working hard to make sure its services are accessible to local people. Its network of help points, with videolinks to the Council's main offices, is particularly useful to people in rural areas. The Council consults residents to identify their needs and then works with partners to meet them. But it does need to upgrade its website and make better use of new technology to improve access to its services, and it has plans in place to do this.'

Strengths include:

• It is easy for most people to access Council services through a wide range of methods
• Help points in rural areas make it easier for people to contact the Council
• Customer focus is a priority across all Council services
• The Council works effectively with its partners to ensure there is a joined-up approach to meeting local needs Weaknesses include:
• Local satisfaction with the Council is relatively poor
• The Council’s website does not currently allow people to book or pay for services on-line, although this is now being put right

Recommendations include:

• Upgrading IT systems to improve customer access to Council services
• Developing the planning and monitoring of services to show clearly how access to services will be improved

Notes to editors

1. Access to services is applicable to all councils and all council services. It is about focusing services to meet the needs of all sections of the community and to improve outcomes for all. An accessible organisation places the customer at the heart of service delivery. It knows what local people want and has organised itself to deliver this.
2. Access to the majority of Bassetlaw District Council services is via two 'one-stop shops' in Worksop and Retford, a network of rural help points and directly via individual services. Service details, contact numbers and email addresses are available on the Council's web-site and through Council literature.
3. The Audit Commission is an independent watchdog, driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local public services to deliver better outcomes for everyone.
4. Our work across local government, health, housing, community safety and fire and rescue services means that we have a unique perspective. We promote value for money for taxpayers, auditing the £200 billion spent by 11,000 local public bodies.
5. As a force for improvement, we work in partnership to assess local public services and make practical recommendations for promoting a better quality of life for local people.
6. Further details about the role of the Audit Commission can be obtained from - http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk