Council challenges league tables

The council said the tables demoralised staff

A Devon council is to formally lodge a legal challenge at the High Court in protest at local council league tables.

Conservative led-Torbay Council will claim that the Audit Commission did not have the legal power to compile such tables.

The council's legal team argues the commission can only carry out studies and publish reports on councils - not assess their work and create league tables.

The commission maintains the tables are designed to highlight weak areas and help improve public services.

There has been nothing more demoralising to our employees than the unfair categorisation of "poor"

Eileen Salloway,
Torbay Council

But some councillors believe the legal action is a waste of money.

Liberal Democrat councillor Jean Midgely said: "This is actually costing the council, and ratepayers are not going to be very pleased that money is being wasted like this.

"We should say: 'Let us get on with the work, let us pick up where we've been judged as poor, get those services on the road and get back to running a council'. "

Council leader Eileen Salloway responded: "I believe any administration would support moves to protect the council's position in the light of the flawed scoring mechanism.

'Exciting opportunity'

"There has been nothing more distracting and demoralising to our employees than the unfair categorisation of "poor"."

"The Monitoring Officer will be well aware of the necessity of keeping costs to a minimum."

Speaking when the tables were released, Audit Commission chairman James Strachan, said: "This is the most detailed analysis of local government ever and an exciting opportunity for all councils.

"It is the time for all councils, regardless of ranking, to focus intently on where they can do better."

The Audit Commission has until 17 January to answer the case.