COUNCIL officials have outlined measures they are taking to improve a department which has come in for criticism by Government inspectors.

A recent Audit Commission report criticised Sedgefield Borough Council's horticultural service, which has seen losses of almost £125,000 a year.

The service was rated only "fair" by inspectors, who also said they felt that it was unlikely to improve.

John Ord, the council's director of contract services, told a meeting of the authority's scrutiny committee that steps to improve the service had already been taken since the inspection.

He said the council had been awarded the service contract, which meant it could introduce a single status for workers, bringing everyone into line with the same pay and conditions.

He said: "The contract will not be driven by bonuses, which it has been in the past. The people involved in the grounds maintenance tenders now have a monthly salary."

He said: "The workforce were given extra holidays in the contract. The workforce are delighted, especially with the salary and the extra holidays."

Mr Ord said other measures include talking to the 14 parishes in the borough, asking how they could improve front-line services. All improvement plans in the future would go before the senior management team and six monthly updates would be given to the scrutiny committee.

Mr Ord, who was given the backing of committee members, said: "I am confident that we will move forward. This will be monitored personally by me on a monthly basis."