Berwick District Council is providing local people with poor access to services, according to an independent report released today by the Audit Commission.

Mid Suffolk District Council has received a 'good' two star rating for strategic housing services. There are 'promising' prospects for improvement. Providing affordable and decent housing is the top corporate priority and effective action is undertaken to realise this objective. Substantial numbers of new affordable dwellings are being completed annually both for rent and for sale. Good work on homelessness prevention is occurring but the Council needs to address diversity issues in a more effective way.

South Lakes Housing provides good services with excellent prospects of improvement. Estates are well managed and homes are being brought up to modern standards. There are some weaknesses, however, in frontline management systems.

Wansbeck has a good understanding of local needs and, with partners, has made it easier for people to access services in the community and at home. The inspection looked at contact channels and how the Council provides local people with opportunities to improve their quality of life.

Gravesham Council is delivering a good community safety service that has promising prospects for improvement. It has engaged comprehensively with local residents, worked closely with partners and contributed significantly to a sustained reduction in crime.

Residents experience a customer focussed service that they have been able to influence. Homes and estates have been well maintained and there is a good repairs service. Properties to be re-let are turned around quickly and to a high standard and gas safety checks have been carried out to 99.60 per cent of homes. Supported housing schemes are well managed and maintained and service users have an excellent 24 hour support service.

Service users are central to Your Homes Newcastle's business and they have shaped and influenced a range of improvements. Commitment to customer care is strong and satisfaction is high. A range of high quality supported housing services is well integrated with and complimentary to housing management services.

Hammersmith & Fulham Homes provides a fair service which has promising prospects for improvement. The organisation places an emphasis on customer care and changes in delivery of the repairs service are beginning to bring benefits. However, there has been a mixed record of improvement and there have been significant delays in starting the decent homes improvement programme.

Strengths in the services offered include a good approach to customer care and rent collection. These, however, are balanced by weaknesses including value for money and the improvement of properties.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council has a customer-focused approach to delivering services and is keen to improve through customer feedback. People receive a friendly and efficient service from the Council's Customer Contact Centre. Physical access to the Council's public buildings is improving and the Council is working with its partners to improve access to services and value for money.

Basildon District Council provides 'fair' access to its services, with 'uncertain' prospects' for improvement, according to a report released today by the independent Audit Commission. On a scale from zero to three stars the Audit Commission inspection team gave the Council a 'fair' one star rating for the way it enables people to access its services.

West Berkshire Council's cultural services are 'fair' and have 'uncertain' prospects for improvement. This is because cultural services make a valuable contribution to the residents' quality of life. However, some services are not well-used and access to some is unsatisfactory. The service also has a mixed track record of improvement.

St. George's Community Housing is providing a 'fair' service that has 'promising' prospects for improvement. There are a number of strengths including dealing with anti-social behaviour and providing supported housing to older residents. However improvements need to be made in some areas, including the approach to rent collection and maximising value for money.

Medway Council is delivering a poor strategic housing service. Weaknesses included very limited work to tackle poor housing conditions in the private sector, a lack of clear, up-to-date housing strategies and low levels of customer satisfaction with the homelessness service. However, the Council is delivering comparatively high levels of good quality affordable new homes.

Milton Keynes Council is providing a good housing management service that has promising prospects for improvement. It is easy for customers to access services, repairs are carried out to a high standard and robust enforcement action is taken to tackle anti-social behaviour. However, there is still scope to improve performance on rent collection and re-letting empty homes.

North Warwickshire Borough Council has received a 'fair' one star rating for its landlord services with promising prospects for improvement. The Council has improved services and a series of further improvements are imminent. Positive features include effective planned maintenance and gas servicing, a high percentage of rent being collected and an effective estate management service. However, the responsive repairs is still weak and its value for money is unproven.

The housing management services provided by South Tyneside Homes are 'good' and have 'promising prospects for improvement', according to an independent report released today by the Audit Commission. On a scale of zero to three stars the Audit Commission inspectors gave the service a two star,'good' rating, because of its customer focused services and well maintained estates.

The cultural services provided by Coventry City Council are 'fair' and 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 services, which cover public libraries and parks as well as art galleries and museums, a 'fair' one-star rating.

Rutland County Council provides a 'fair' landlord service that has 'excellent' prospects for improvement. The service is providing good customer care and tenant involvement is strong. Repairs are completed on time and there is a capital programme in place. Rent arrears collection is under developed and void times are too long.

The allocations and homelessness service provided by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is 'fair' with 'promising prospects for improvement', according to an independent report released today [5 June] by the Audit Commission. On a scale of zero to three stars, the Audit Commission inspection team gave the service a 'fair', one star rating.