New ‘One place’ report praises district councils (Status: Press release)

COUNCILLORS and management at the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils have expressed their pleasure that both authorities have been recognised as “performing well” in an independent report.

The Oneplace assessment, published on Wednesday, 9th December, which combines the views of six independent inspectorates to provide a snapshot overview of local public services throughout England, praised both the Vale and South for the services they provide and for their shared management structure and the sharing of some services.

The report highlighted that the two councils were “continuing to deliver front-line services while reducing management and council running costs.”

As with the rest of the country, the assessment carried out for Oxfordshire looked at how important local issues, such as crime, affordable housing and people?s health, are being tackled ? and the prospects for improvement.

The Oneplace assessment highlighted that in the Vale of White Horse “over 86 percent of people living in the Vale are satisfied with their local area as a place to live,” and that the Vale Council “engages and consults with the local community and is embracing change and working to improve services that are important to local people”.

The report also pointed out that the Vale Council “continues to provide good value for money services”, and that “major efficiencies have been delivered and improvements are continuing to be made.”

South Oxfordshire was recognised for having “the highest rating in the county of people satisfied with their local area as a place to live and 78 percent are satisfied with their local services.”

South Oxfordshire District Council was also praised for improvements in its waste and recycling collections as well as its clean streets and low levels of graffiti and fly-tipping.

David Buckle, Joint Chief Executive for the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils, said: “We are very pleased that the ongoing improvements to the services being offered by both councils have been recognised and anticipate that this will continue to as we further develop joint working.”

Cllr Tony de Vere, Leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “The Oneplace assessment made a point of highlighting that the Vale “continues to provide good value for money”. This is especially pleasing given the limited finances we have to work with, and will be reassuring to council tax payers in the district who will be keen to know that the money they contribute is being used wisely.”

Cllr Ann Ducker, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council said: “This is very welcome news for both councils as we’ve really had to find innovative ways of working in order to protect front line services and continue to provide high quality, value for money services for residents so it’s great to receive external credit for this. Together we achieved this by delivering the unthinkable – a shared management team and shared waste and finance services despite different political administrations, and it’s reassuring to know that independent assessors agree we’re making sound decisions in the best interests of residents.”

The full results of the Oneplace assessment can be found at the new Oneplace website: www.direct.gov.uk/oneplace

PHOTO: Cllr Ann Ducker, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council