RCT Most Improved Council

A report published this week by the Local Government Data Unit – Wales, shows that Rhondda Cynon Taf is the most improved council in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The report, which provides performance information on a range of services provided by councils, states that Rhondda Cynon Taf Council improved in over 70% of the performance indicators when comparing 2015/16 with 2014/15. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Cllr Andrew Morgan, commented: “This report is to be welcomed as it endorses the approach we have taken in respect of service delivery, despite the reduced budgets we have received in recent years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The impact of the UK Government’s policy of austerity on local government has been severe but our prudent approach to financial management has contributed significantly to the improvements we have been able to deliver for the benefit of residents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would like to thank the council’s management and staff for the positive way in which they have worked with the Cabinet and our communities to deliver improved services during a period, which, between 2011 and 2016, saw the council needing to make savings of £76M. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The improvements we have made span a range of service areas including social care, environmental services and education but we know there is still improvement to be made and, whilst this is a positive reflection on our service provision, we will continue to strive for further improvements.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The annual report by the Local Government Data Unit – Wales highlights compares the performance of councils in Wales across a number of different service areas such as social care, environmental services, housing, leisure, libraries and education. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Of the 40 performance indicators used to measure council performance, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council made improvements in 29 – or 73% of them – during 2015/16 when compared with 2014/15. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Between 2011 and 2015/16 the council delivered savings of £76M as a result of reduced public sector funding with the majority of savings coming from efficiencies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A budget gap for 2016/17 of approximately £20M was closed with only £0.5M of service changes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council continues to deliver hundreds of services to its 230,000+ residents in order to deliver on the priorities of place, people and economy, as set out in the council’s Corporate Plan. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​