In a report to be released on Thursday, the Commission has given the Hertfordshire borough a “poor”, no star grade, and says its waste service has “poor” prospects for improvement.
” What residents need to know is that the Audit Commission's report is based primarily on figures relating to the year ended March 31 2004 and is therefore now well over a year out of date “
– Councillor Neil Payne, Hertsmere council
But Councillor Neil Payne, leader of the council, has hit back at the report, claiming: “What residents need to know is that the Audit Commission's report is based primarily on figures relating to the year ended March 31 2004 and is therefore now well over a year out of date.”
The Commission said that the services are “not well led or managed and there is a lack of customer focus.” A Commission inspector said: “The council must improve in many aspects of its service performance but it cannot do so without strong managerial leadership complemented by a capable cadre of supporting officers with sufficient financial and other resources. An action plan for implementation should be developed by June 2005.”
Conservative-run Hertsmere has said that it already has action plans in place for improving performance in both waste management and planning, which received cross-party support at a recent overview and scrutiny committee meeting.
Targets
The Commission report was also critical of the council's “poor performance in key public facing areas, including recycling and waste minimisation.” An inspector said: “Value for money can not be demonstrated and many national targets and statutory performance standards are not being met.”
Hertsmere council had a recycling rate of 12% for 2003/04, missing its target by 2% and placing it in the bottom 70 councils in the country. It now has to achieve a recycling rate of 21% by 2005/06.
In response the council pointed out that a new green waste scheme had been rolled out in Bushey, Aldenham, Radlett and Elstree was proving to be an “overwhelming success.” The scheme is currently being rolled out to the rest of the borough with green bins being delivered to three quarters of the borough.
Greater investment
According to the Commission, Hertsmere's waste service budget for 2004/05 was 2,629,670 – a 4% decrease from 2003/04 – prompting the Commission to point out that achieving a significant improvement in recycling will require greater investment.
But the council has stated that over the last year over 2 million has been invested in a new fleet of waste collection vehicles and a brand new waste depot has been built at Potters Bar.
Residents' satisfaction
Hertsmere has also hit back at claims that public satisfaction levels for waste are low. Councillor Payne pointed out: “In terms of residents' satisfaction, the latest independent Hertsmere Panel Survey, conducted by MORI, confirms that local people are increasingly satisfied with the council's waste and recycling service.
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“From the poll, 84% of residents say they use the fortnightly collection of recyclables, 73% supported an expansion of the recycling service in Hertsmere, and 76% now agree with the council's close lid policy,” he added.
Hertsmere has now invited the inspectors to return and verify the improvements to services first hand in six months time.
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