Highlights of 2004 – 2008

Performance successes include:

• We are amongst the best 25% of all councils for

                   -Service delivery satisfaction

                   -Overall satisfaction with the Council

                   -How we handle complaints

• Satisfaction with customer service also scored highly with over 70% ratings for ready access, for speed of response, for providing the right information, for the competence and helpfulness of staff.
• Council tax increases have remained below average for the last 4 years and our communities pay the 28th lowest of all District Councils.
• Improved recycling rate to 25.2% - amongst the best in the country
• Maintained the district as one of the safest in the country
• Reduced the number of people presenting as homeless by 26% through excellent preventative work by the Housing team
• The cleanliness of public areas has improved yet again so that only 3% is now classified as having significant or heavy amounts of litter
• Benefits claimants are dealt with quicker than ever and better than by most other district councils
• Over 95% of invoices are now paid within 30 days
• The collection rate for Council Tax and business rates continues to improve year upon year and is top quartile.
• 75% of performance measures were better than or equal to previous performance
• All these successes have been achieved while keeping costs at one of the lowest levels per person of all district councils

Major events and projects

• Conducted a major survey of over 1000 residents from across the district to identify what they considered most needed improving
• Started the development of new medical centre in Pickersleigh
• Developed a Community Engagement strategy in order to listen to and learn from our communities
• Improved the Sport Dyson Perrins facilities, making them more available to the wider community
• Established a Tenbury Sports Network to focus on healthy activity in the north of the district
• Launched the “Highstreet” programme in Great Malvern, which is now being progressed by the Town Centre Partnership
• Launched the new concessionary fares scheme – the take up has increased by 40% and the number of journeys taken has doubled
• Finalised plans to implement a shared service approach to delivering Revenue and Benefits services
• Delivered efficiency savings well in excess of the government target of 2.5% per annum
• Introduced new bring sites for recycling around the district, bringing the total to 37
• Reorganised waste collection rounds so that the reliability of collection improved by 26%
• Reached agreement for 43% of all new houses on the North Site development to be affordable homes
• Developed the Pickersleigh Centre as a one-stop shop and internet café for the community.
• Extended the range of services handled through the Worcestershire Hub, so that more people can get the support and information they need with just one call.