Hull City Council goes from worst to most improved

Council leader Carl Minns said more improvements were planned

Hull City Council has been crowned the most improved in England, six years after it came bottom in a survey of 150 local authorities.

Hull beat four other councils to win the 'Most Improved Title' at the Local Government Chronicle awards.

A panel of chief executives from English councils visited Hull in January to see how it had improved services and residents' satisfaction.

The judges were impressed by economic and health and safety advances.

Leader of Hull City Council, Carl Minns said: "The most important factor is to ensure that residents get excellent quality services but it is always good to have external recognition of the improvements to services.

Fall in crime

"We won't rest on our laurels, we are ambitious and will continue to focus on delivering the best for residents."

Hull was shortlisted alongside Southend, Corby, Harrow and Northampton for the award.

The council's winning achievements included major reductions in the level of crime, reductions in littering and graffiti and improvements to social care for older people.

The council also worked with partners including the economic development company, Hull Forward, Business Link and the Chamber of Commerce to support local businesses and help people find work during the recession.

In 2004, government watchdog, the Audit Commission rated Hull council's performance as "poor". By March this year it was judged to be a three-star performer, out of a possible four stars, by the commission.