The Office of Local Government which monitors and supports Local Government performance has published statistics on Council performance across England. These have been co-designed between National and Local Government and are intended to allow comparators to be made between the performance of different Councils on agreed metrics.
The first analysis dates from 2021-2022 but will be updated overtime.
Drawing from the 2021-2022 statistics Horsham has been ranked by the Times Newspaper as 11th out of 318 in England overall, they rated HDC as 4th on Finance. The Government Statistics showed strong HDC reserves which had grown over time notwithstanding a Band D Council Tax well below the national average.
There was more good news on Household Waste recycling where HDC performed well ahead of national comparators and its peers.
According to the Times, West Sussex County Council was in the middle of the Council range for finance but outperformed the average on a number of important services.
The full Government analysis can be found at https://oflog.data.gov.uk/
Jeremy Quin, MP for Horsham commented,
“These excellent metrics show the performance of Horsham District Council under the then Conservative administration. I would like to warmly congratulate the Council on some great results. In 2021-2022 Council retained strong reserves, a low Council Tax and good delivery metrics over a number of services. This helpful analysis by the Office for Local Government will provide a useful benchmark as it continues to be reported into the future. These metrics will enable local residents in Horsham District and across the country to track their Council’s performance.
Clearly since these metrics the new administration at HDC has taken decisions around spending reserves and has significantly increased parking charges and the Horsham town special charge.”
Philip Circus Leader of the Conservative Group on Horsham District Council said,
“We are proud of our strong record when we were leading HDC as shown so clearly in these excellent statistics – not just on finance but on overall performance. We will continue to hold to account the new Lib Dem administration which is endangering this strong historic track record. Conservatives locally will continue to push for the right decisions to be taken in the residents’ long term interest.”