Audit Commission Reports

The housing management services provided by North Hertfordshire Homes are good with promising prospects for improvement. North Hertfordshire Homes provides a customer focused service and improvements to services are positively affecting tenants. Overall tenant satisfaction is high and performance on Housing Corporation PIs is strong and improving in most areas.

Cross Keys Homes is providing a 'fair' housing service that has 'promising prospects for improvement'. There are particular strengths in the delivery of major works and combating anti-social behaviour. However, there are some weaknesses in the performance on rent arrears and on repairs.

Inspectors' judgement: A fair service, with uncertain prospects for improvement. Medina Housing Association is providing a fair service with uncertain prospects for improvement. The Association delivers some good services in key areas, such as repairs and maintenance. But the quality of other services is variable and the approach to value for money and diversity needs further development. While capacity and leadership are strong, some building blocks for improvement are not yet in place.

Erimus Housing provides good services with promising prospects of improvement. Homes are being brought up to modern standards and anti social behaviour is dealt with effectively. There are some weaknesses, however, in the delivery of the response repairs service.

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council provides a 'poor' landlord service that has 'uncertain' prospects for improvement. The Council has not involved tenants in many of the decisions that it makes. Rent arrears collection is poor, repairs to properties are not monitored and the main causes of anti social behaviour are not being targeted.

Customers are getting 'fair' access to the services provided by St Albans City and District Council and there are 'promising prospects' for improvement, according to an independent report released today by the Audit Commission.

Ocean Housing Limited is providing well maintained homes which have benefited from well directed investment. However, performance on some services, such as estate management, is inconsistent and the strategic approach to diversity is underdeveloped. A clear vision for the housing service is supported by effective management, ensuring that the Association is well-placed to meet the challenges ahead.

Strategic housing services provided by the City of Durham Council are 'fair', one-star, and have 'uncertain' prospects to improve. The City of Durham Council services a population of 92,000, increasing by 15,000, 11 per cent, when students are attending the local university. It is one of seven districts making up County Durham. Following a Local Government Review the City of Durham Council will cease to operate from 1 April 2009.

Community Safety Inspection. Hillingdon Council and its partners have made positive progress towards delivering community safety and crime reduction targets and although not all Government and local targets have been met there has been a real impact on crime and the Council and partners are working closely with the local community to deliver further reductions.

Wolverhampton City Council is delivering a fair Supporting People programme which has promising prospects for improvement. This is an improvement on a previous inspection in 2006 which assessed WCC's administration to be poor with uncertain prospects for improvement.

The Housing Service provided by Orbit South Housing Association is judged to be fair with promising prospects for improvement.

The environmental service provided by Forest Heath District Council is 'good' but has 'uncertain 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 service, which covers areas such as waste collection, recycling and street cleaning, a 'good' two-star rating.

The envirocrime service provided by North Herts Borough Council is 'good' and has 'promising prospects' to improve, 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 - which deals with incidents of minor criminal damage (such as graffiti), littering, fly tipping, abandoned vehicles and anti-social behaviour - a 'good' two-star rating

The planning service provided by Norwich City Council is 'fair' with 'uncertain' 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 service a 'fair' one-star rating.

The cultural services provided by Watford Borough Council are 'fair' with 'excellent' prospects for improvement according to a report released today by the independent Audit Commission.

The London Borough of Lambeth is providing 'fair' cultural services which have '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 service a 'fair', one star rating, because the Council offers a wide and varied programme of events which reflects the diverse make up of the population.

Halton Housing Trust provides a fair service with promising prospects for improvement. Some services have improved from a low point at transfer, but there is improvement needed in engagement of customers, value for money and in consistently delivering upon agreed standards

The cultural services provided by Boston Borough Council are 'poor' and have 'uncertain 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's cultural services, which cover sport and leisure as well as art galleries and museums, a 'poor' zero star rating.

The London Borough of Lambeth is providing 'fair' cultural services which have '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 service a 'fair', one star rating, because the Council offers a wide and varied programme of events which reflects the diverse make up of the population.

Trafford Council's access to services is 'good' and has 'promising prospects for improvement', according to an independent report released today (31st July) by the Audit Commission.