Potholes and dirty streets mar York's profile

New ratings released by the Audit Commission show City of York Council has again received a "good" rating.

Most of its services were ranked highly, including four stars for education and benefits, and three for housing.

But its one star for the environment category, which includes waste collection and recycling, street cleaning, and planning and transport, including speed of road repairs, may have stopped the council claiming the coveted "excellent" title.

The council's ruling Liberal Democrat group is leading the York Pride initiative aimed at making York a cleaner city.

But the opposition Labour group was in power for the first five months of this year's ranking period.

Council leader Steve Galloway welcomed the "good" rating, and dedicated it to the hard work of council staff.

He said: "If present trends continue, I am confident that our quest for excellence will be realised within the next couple of years."

Coun Galloway said the environmental assessment began before his group's York Pride campaign began, and pointed to recently increased recycling rates.

But he admitted more work was needed to speed up road repairs, and said York's status as an historical city could affect its aim for excellence.

Derek Smallwood, environment chief from January to May this year, said the council had struggled with an environmental programme known as Local Agenda 21.

Elsewhere, North Yorkshire County Council bosses are celebrating their council's ranking going up from "fair" to "good".

Chief executive Jeremy Walker said: "I'm very proud of the efforts of staff and the real improvements in services they have made."

But the biggest cheer was at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which topped the tree with an "excellent" rating.

Chief executive Darryl Stephenson said: "This is a tremendous achievement by employees and one of which everyone can be very proud."

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, December 18, 2003