Leicester City Council's work on regeneration is 'good' and prospects for further improvement are 'promising' 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 service a 'good' two-star rating. The report says that the Council has transformed the look and feel of the city centre and worked successfully with partners to improve the city's ranking as an attractive retail destination. Its cultural quarter, and Curve, the new theatre, are adding to the cultural life of the city. The Council and its partners have also helped significant numbers of people to get jobs, skills or qualifications, although it needs to do more to improve services that impact on the prosperity of residents and alleviate deprivation.
Mary Perry, Audit Commission senior manager, said:
'Leicester city centre has been improved substantially by the Council and its partners. The new theatre, shops areas and jobs have made it a city centre to be proud of. However if Leicester is to thrive, more action is still needed to improve educational attainment and skill levels and to help people to get work, as well as to build and sustain new businesses.'
Strengths include:
- A history of delivering successful physical regeneration projects
- Clear and ambitious regeneration aims and priorities, good leadership and innovative partnership working within the city, the county and the region
- A commitment to diversity which is reflected in the Council's policies and plans
- Money has been obtained from a range of sources to fund key regeneration projects
Weaknesses include:
- Consideration of value for money in delivering the programmes has been limited
- The Council's track record in some services that impact on the prosperity of residents and alleviate deprivation, such as schools performance, educational attainment and benefits processing, is poor
- The Council needs to do more to retain graduates in the city
Recommendations include:
- Developing a cohesive set of plans to ensure that the regeneration aims of One Leicester, a city wide strategy to improve life in Leicester over the next 25 years, are properly supported by all Council departments
- Deciding how best to assist individuals, businesses and the private sector during the current recession
- Strengthening the Council's arrangements for assessing value for money
Copies of the report are available from Leicester City Council or from the Audit Commission website.
Notes to editors
Leicester City Council's Regeneration and Culture Department's budget for 2008/09 is £69.6 million. It has also had responsibility for a range of externally funded programmes amounting to over £100m.
The Audit Commission is an independent watchdog, driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local public services to deliver better outcomes for everyone.
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.
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.
Further details about the role of the Audit Commission can be obtained from www.audit-commission.gov.uk.
For more information contact Eric Ludlow on 0844 798 4183