Backlash after Worthing Council's 'adequate' score

The Audit Commission, which monitors local authorities and awards scores for efficiency, rated Worthing Borough Council as "adequate" in its recent annual organisational assessment, with a score of two out of a possible four.

The report said the council "meets only minimum requirements" and lacks both an understanding of local people's needs and a vision for the future.

Yet, despite the low score, it praised the partnership with Adur council - which has saved taxpayers almost 1 million - as "innovative" and "ground-breaking", and acknowledged the council's hard work to improve the local economy.

Services praised

It also recognised the quality and success of Worthing's waste and recycling services, praised the popularity of the council-run museum and theatres and noted the success of its work with people living in deprived areas.

Mr Yallop was scathing in his response to the report, slamming the 156,000 cost of the inspections as "a ridiculous amount of money for the quality of inspection report we received".

He added: "It reads like an old-fashioned, badly written school report, where the teacher is not quite sure who the child is."

The Liberal Democrats were quick to pounce on Mr Yallop's strong words.

In a statement, spokesman Bob Smytherman said: "From the leader of the council's reaction, the report's findings do come as a surprise to the Tory administration and he shoots the messenger rather than taking on board the message."

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