'Tory Council is Failing'

5.02.14pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 26th Aug 2008

Local Lib Dem Leader Jeff Brooks has lambasted the ruling Tories at West Berkshire Council for failing 50% of the targets they set for the past year.

"Failing half of the targets that they set themselves is simply abysmal", claimed Councillor Brooks, "A fifty percent failure rate is not acceptable in school exams or even central government, so why should we let this happen in West Berkshire? The Tories need to step up to the plate and start to improve their game, as they are letting down residents."

Liberal Democrat Shadow Executive Members have also commented on a number of the missed targets and the reasons given for failure:

• Failure to reduce crimes committed, instead missing the target by 28%: "Not only have they missed this by a mile, it seems that they got the wording wrong on alcohol designation order signs, which now have to be replaced presumably at extra expense." (Councillor Roger Hunneman).

• Installation of CCTV at St Johns roundabout: "Failure to install CCTV at St Johns roundabout has been blamed on Market Street roadworks - I cannot see why this should prevent the camera being put in place - more excuses, I fear." (Cllr Hunneman).

• Re-launch the Council's Emergency Planning website and revise the Major Incident Plan: "More than a year down the line from the 2007 floods the Tories have failed to learn lessons and have not put into place the necessary framework to reduce the impact of such a natural disaster happening again. They are still not prepared." (Councillor Keith Woodhams).

• Turnover of Council workforce remains high, having increased from last year but they seem to have no understanding of the reason why people are leaving. Only now do they say they will be improving the exit interview process.

• Target of attending to customers within 5 minutes missed at 5.5 minutes. Target now changed to 6 minutes: "This is another example of the Tories moving the goalposts to make it easier for them to hit targets. It is regrettable that so many targets are being missed when they are constantly relaxing the standards to achieve." (Councillor Jeff Brooks).

• A target to ensure business continuity at the council in the event of a major incident was missed when three departments did not return self-assessments. The risk attached to this failed target was deemed 'high' as 'should a major incident occur that also affects the Council as a business it is deemed likely that error may be made'.

• Just 36% of children had a Family Group Conference prior to becoming Looked After when the target was 75%. "The Tories' solution to this is to 'publicise' the service to their own staff. They should be making it mandatory, not reducing the target." (Cllr Alan Macro).

• Only 65% of boys attained Level 2B+ in reading by age 7 against a target of 73.5%: "West Berkshire has an enviable educational reputation and desirable schools - we should be comfortably exceeding this target. Instead, this is a poor outcome for this area." (Cllr Alan Macro).

• Library visits decreased by 10% last year.

• Bus satisfaction targets were low to begin with at just 51%, but still were missed, recording just 46% customer satisfaction levels.

• Targets to improve planning application responsiveness were missed by 14.1%: "We are constantly told by the Tories how wonderful their planning service is. Now it seems that was just a lot of hot air with no substance or facts to back it up."

Councillor Brooks concluded:

"These are just a drop in the ocean of red lights on Tory performance targets. Not only are they missing rent reviews on council rent but also failing to carry out more than half of land searches within 5 days. I am appalled by this dismal and lacklustre performance which they are passing off as 'successful' with 'good progress'".