Council achieves four-star rating (From Stourbridge News)

Council achieves four-star rating

4:08pm Saturday 9th February 2008 in Local

DUDLEY Council has reached for the stars after being ranked one of the top local authorities in the country.

The authority has been handed four-star status after an independent assessment by The Audit Commission, moving the council up from a three-star ranking.

Dudley notched up an excellent' rating for its adult social care and housing service. Their housing benefit service also scored an excellent' rating and the culture department was also judged as improved.

Strides forward have also been made in children's services, which received a good' rating with improvements made in the achievements of children in care and in improving the quality of 14 to 19 years education and training.

The council's work with diverse communities also bagged praise from Audit Commission chiefs.

Councillor David Caunt, leader of Dudley Council, said: "We promised residents that we would strive to raise standards in the council so that we would be second to none.

"An independent outside assessment of our services by the audit commission means that we are are now externally rated as one of the best authorities in the country.

"My congratulations to all council staff who have made our four-star service happen.

"This does not mean that we can sit back as we must strive to be even better."