The Liberal Democrat-led administration has just had the piece of good news that it:
has become the first English council to achieve top marks from the local authority watchdog.
Audit Commission inspectors praised the council’s responsiveness and the strong leadership of its councillors and officers, who it said have displayed “excellent” understanding of the social, economic and environmental challenges facing the borough’s communities.
The Audit Commission’s assesment rules are not without their problems and controversies (particularly over the relative importance given to financial issues) but in this case it seems a fair representation of the many good things the administration has been doing.
4 Comments
As a Lib Dem in Camden, I can’t let this go without comment. Not sure what to comment, mind. Presumably “yay!”.
Surely you are missing the fact it is a joint administration with the excellent Conservatives? Not bias from the Libdems!
would hate anyone to think that the previous posting from “Duncan” was from me ;’tis an assessment of the Council over a 4 yr period ,which includes two yrs of the previous administration,but i dont think anyone is any real doubt that the real kudos attaches to the Lib Dems who are firmly leading the “partnership administration”
Duncan Greenland may say “but i dont think anyone is any real doubt that the real kudos attaches to the Lib Dems who are firmly leading the “partnership administration””, but if he reads the Audit Commission’s report, he will find that the inspectors were very clear that the success was down to the administration as a whole, including the four Conservative members who have direct portfolio responsibility for the Environment, Adult Social Care, Schools, and Equalities and Community Development (as well as chairing Development Control and Licensing). Both parties sharing power in Camden have worked well together, and continue to do so, in the interests of local people. Surely in a party that is in favour of proportional representation, Cllr Greenland should be a bit more relaxed and generous about cross-party coalitions?
Cllr Andrew Marshall
Deputy Leader, Camden Council (Conservative)