Progress Report for Newcastle under Lyme
Written by Hitmix Local News on 29 November 2023
Residents in Newcastle under Lyme can see for themselves how money is being spent and services delivered thanks to an annual progress report. The Borough Council is presenting the report, detailing its performance set against its four-year development plan to 2026.
Its priorities are building the local economy; supporting healthy, safe and active communities; creating town centres that are attractive day and night for everyone; the ‘One Council’ approach to maximise resources and deliver cost-efficient services for residents.
A local Government Association report at the beginning of the year praised the council’s financial management and clear, steady leadership, and for attracting “enviable amounts of Government funding to deliver physical regeneration”.
Measuring the council against other, comparable authorities, the Borough Council was in the top performing 25 per cent for the low cost of collecting Council Tax, processing planning applications on time and receiving low numbers of complaints.
The authority was also in the top half of councils for low waste collection costs, high recycling rates and low numbers of fly-tipping incidents.
Many things were highlighted for 2022/23 including working to reduce rough sleeping from 49 cases to six, winning ‘safer streets’ funding to address anti-social behaviour, reducing carbon emissions, developing a full programme of events to celebrate the Borough’s 850th anniversary and winning a 20th successive Gold Award in Britain in Bloom also tireless work in the face of the unprecedented problems at Walleys Quarry.