Best Value for Taxpayers

Working in partnership to deliver 200 social housing units, assisting in the development of a women's refuge, and national recognition for its work with the voluntary sector are just some of Stratford-on-Avon District Council's successes from last year.

Residents in south Warwickshire can find out more about how their local council has performed with the publication of a new report. The district council's best value performance plan sets out the council's targets over the last year (April 2004 to March 2005) and how effective it was at meeting them.

"This plan gives the opportunity to reflect on past performance and to look forward to establishing priorities for the coming years," said Cllr Trevor Russel, the council deputy leader.

"It is an important report for both staff and residents because it brings together the council's current performance and our future plans. Some of last year's highlights are:

"The first women's refuge in Stratford-upon-Avon, to which we made a significant contribution, providing modern, self-contained and supported places of safety for women escaping domestic violence.

"Our website, which was re-launched in April, has received recognition from external assessors on the improvements we have made. They previously ranked our website at 442 and have moved us up to 48.

"Two hundred new social homes were provided - double the target of 100 we had set ourselves.  In February we agreed a new budget to invest an additional £5 million over the next three years in social housing.

"For the first time in several years we have fully completed our annual food and safety inspection programme in record time, meeting Audit Commission recommendations. And we have developed a new Youth Policy and Child Protection Policy.

"These are just a handful of our achievements over the last year, which are all aimed at providing the highest quality of service to the taxpayers of south Warwickshire."

A copy of the 60-page best value performance plan can be obtained from the council by calling 01789 260610 or by visiting the Best Value Performance Plan 2005/2006 page of this website.