Borough Council making "Significant Progress" under Lib Dems

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Apr 2009

The Audit Commission, the government's independent watchdog, have judged that Lib Dem controlled Northampton Borough Council has made "significant progress" over the past year and that it is now making "progress in improving services for local people".

The Lib Dem Leader of the Borough Council, Cllr Tony Woods, said, "This is by far the most positive report the Borough Council has received from the Audit Commission since they judged the Council as Poor in 2004.

"12 years of Labour rule resulted in that Poor judgement. In 4 years under the Tories the Council went backwards. Now, after just two years of a Liberal Democrat administration we have proof positive from the Audit Commission of significant progress, improving value for money and better services for local people.

"But we know there is a long way to go before the Council is performing up with the very best - and Northampton residents deserve the very best. Years of failure takes time to put right. We are putting things right and are determined that Northampton Borough Council will be amongst the best in the country as soon as possible.

"This report confirms we are going in the right direction."