Council 'adequate' says watchdog

The 2008 Audit Report is based on inspections in 2007

A range of social services for children and old people in Northamptonshire are improving, but need to get better, a local government watchdog report says.

The Audit Commission, which inspected Northamptonshire County Council in 2007, rates the council as adequate.

The report, which goes to the council's cabinet next Tuesday, says the council has improved its child services and has worked with partners to help cut crime.

But adult social care, rated good last year, is now only rated adequate.

The report says budget pressures meant that the council helped fewer people (aged 65 and over) to live independently at home, and fewer people receive intensive home care.

'Rapidly changing'

However, it adds that the council is among the best at helping adults (under 65) with physical disability to live at home.

The Commission rates the council's use of resources as good.

The report says: "While the council continues to deliver measurable improvements in some areas, the overall direction of travel is assessed as 'adequate' and improvement is not keeping pace with many councils."

It calls on the council to work towards increasing its ratings and services.

Leader of Northamptonshire County Council, Jim Harker said: "The annual audit and inspection letter summarising these old assessments really does remind us how rapidly we are changing as a council.

"We have also completely overhauled the council's programme of major projects designed to ensure the council changes to ensure better customer service and reduced work duplication and bureaucracy.

"With all the improvements we have made since then I look forward with every confidence to the next set of reports."