Council boss disputes 'poor' rating

Torbay Council disagrees with the report's findings

A Devon council has defended its performance after being rated as one of the 13 worst performing councils in England.

Torbay Council was placed in the bottom category in a report by the Audit Commission, with its services described as "poor".

The main areas of weakness included social care and housing and the council has been given eight weeks to turn the situation around.

But acting council chief executive Paul Lucas has disputed the report's conclusion.

Paul Lucas says many services are doing well

"There are some very good things about Torbay," he said.

"We have got good staff providing good services.

"Our leisure inspection came out as fair.

"But within that report our beach management is rated good, our seafront park management is good and our leisure centres are good.

"One thing that was lacking was something joining it together in terms of a culture strategy and a leisure strategy.

"We accept the need to address that issue.

Threatened injunction

"But the actual things that people are receiving in terms of services are good."

Earlier this week the authority was threatening to take out an injunction to prevent the report being published.

But they stepped back from such action after the Audit Commission said it was not prepared to delay publication.

The council has also revealed that it has been unable to find a suitable candidate to be chief executive.

Council leaders will meet on Friday to discuss re-advertising the post.