Council Conceals Truth in Annual Report

6.24.01pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 8th Nov 2007

Cambridgeshire County Council is in such a crisis that it is reduced to concealing its true performance from the public, according to Liberal Democrat councillors.

The Council's Cabinet has published its Annual Report, which fails to mention its recent poor showings in external inspections by the Audit Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection, in which the Council scored well below the average for county councils in England.

In addition, there is no mention of another vital indicator - the Council's satisfaction rating with the public itself, which has declined from 64% in 2004 to 48%, below average for county councils.

"This document, with its spinning of the facts and its smug and complacent tone, simply doesn't paint a realistic picture of the Council and its leadership," says Councillor Nichola Harrison, Lib Dem spokesperson for Corporate Services.

"Taxpayers are paying for it to be produced and they have a right to expect something reliable and honest, not something created by spin doctors. I'm not saying that they shouldn't take credit for the things they are doing well, but it's not acceptable to cover up the bad news - and there's plenty of that at the Council these days.

"The Audit Commission has pointed out that the Council is not doing well at engaging with its communities and this Annual Report confirms that the Cabinet has scant respect for the people of Cambridgeshire."