A high profile review of the services delivered by Brentwood Council has rated them as 'good'.

There is room for improvement in several areas, but Audit Commission inspectors carrying out a Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) have decided that overall the council is well managed and achieves a very high level of public satisfaction.

The findings were detailed in a report released alongside reviews of more than 200 districts and boroughs across the country.

Neighbouring Epping Forest and Chelmsford also achieved a 'good' rating, while Basildon was rated 'fair'.

Brentwood Council chief executive, Bob McLintock, said: "It is very pleasing to be judged as good and towards the top end of the Audit Commission's scoring scale. I would like to give credit to all our staff, councillors and partners."

Mr McLintock said the year long (CPA) process had required an 'enormous amount of effort.'

Audit Commission senior manager, Ian Davidson, said: "Brentwood Council is, overall, a well run council that provides quality services, such as leisure, community safety, planning and open spaces to local people.

"But, it needs to make better use of internal and external challenge to help it improve its services to match those of the best performing councils."

Published Thursday July 1, 2004

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