A LOCAL authority which came in for criticism following a Government inspection has announced its plans for improvement.

Teesdale District Council was rated poor in a comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) published by the Audit Commission in May. Although the report stated that its strengths outweighed its weaknesses in the quality of its services, including leisure and planning, the scores in those areas were unable to elevate the poor results in other areas. These included a lack of political and managerial leadership and delays in processing benefit claims.

However, since the report was published the council has grasped the nettle and this week unveiled New Horizons, setting out a recovery programme in a bid to satisfy its critics.

Chief executive Charles Anderson said many new processes had already been implemented, with a revised and streamlined committee structure and extra monitoring mechanisms.

Chairman of the corporate strategy group, Coun Ken Robinson, stressed that although the CPA report wasn't good, it wasn't all bad.

"Our leisure services scored highly and the recent improvement in council tax collection and benefits administration has been dramatic, even by national standards, and the most improved in the country," he said.

Although calling the recovery plan the start of the process he said it would not end; efforts would be continuous because of the authority's commitment to modernisation and improvement.

"It would also be nice to think that central government will finally recognise that the financial settlements we have had from governments of all colours over the years have been totally inadequate," he added. "We would welcome an average contribution from government - in fact an average settlement in this context would be more than welcome, because we, the staff and members of Teesdale Council, together with the electorate, on whose behalf we operate, deserve no less."

Pat Thynne, from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, is the lead official providing external support to help the council through its recovery process.

She was glad to hear the authority was striving to improve and while it was "so far, so good" it must not be content to rest on its laurels. Although it had received praise for some of its services she likened the recovery process to a car going on a long journey.

"Although it might be motoring along nicely, if it's not properly maintained it is going to grind to a halt," she said.

The recovery process will go on until next June, when the council will then ask to be reassessed.