DURHAM County Council is now providing more effective leadership, according to the Audit Commission.

The verdict, from the commission’s organisational assessment published in December, represents a quick turnaround for the authority, which came under fire from the watchdog in April 2008.

At that time, inspectors said although the council was a four-star authority and generally performing well, there were significant weaknesses in the political leadership provided by the leader of the council (then Albert Nugent) and the cabinet.

District auditor Steve Nicklin wrote: “There is limited visible political leadership in key priority areas such as economic development.

“Politicians are not consistently challenging in holding officers to account.”

However, the latest assessment says: “It (the council) is taking action to improve services and work with partners to provide effective solutions to the issues most important to local people, such as housing and jobs.”

It continues: “Regeneration and the economy is now the top priority for Durham and the council is providing more effective leadership.

“The council and the economic partnership have a clear understanding of the impact of the current recession in Durham and its response has been positive, with initiatives set up to help people look for new jobs and cope with financial loss.”

Marion Talbot, area assessment lead for Northumberland and Durham, said: “There’s been significant change.

“The leader of the council (Simon Henig) is very clear about wanting to take Durham into a different place.

He’s quite keen to give it a better regional voice, and a national voice.

“There’s more engagement with the city regions and he’s committed to community engagement.”

However, she added: “The economy in Durham is poor and getting worse. There are some very difficult challenges in Durham: housing, health and the economy.

“They’re not sitting back and saying they can’t do things about them. But the plans that they have got in place, while they look good, will need to deliver.

“At this point, my judgement would be: they’re in a position to move forward, based on the building blocks they’re putting in place at the moment.”

The assessment was published at the launch of oneplace: a website that grades councils, police forces, fire brigades, children’s services and NHS trusts to give residents an overall view of the standard of public services in their area.

It can be viewed at one place.direct.gov.uk