Following the best value review of City of York Council's 'Access to Services', (ATS), the Audit Commission has completed its inspection of the service and found that it is a fair service that will probably improve.

The Access to Services review looked at how the council's services to customers are managed and how they could be improved. At the moment six departments manage the services and it is estimated that the council manages approximately 2.25million customer access transactions each year.

The ATS project outlined a future vision which was for all council customers to be able to access services quickly, simply, and effectively. Access would be focussed around customer needs and give choices of the most suitable access method and place for each customer and different type of service and transaction.

Dave Shaw, the council's review leader for access to services, said: "The inspection has confirmed what our review had already identified - that we need to make improvements to the way that the council deals with its customers. Our plans for improvements are already in place and include the recommendations made by the inspectors. One of the main proposals for the review was to deliver joined-up services for the council's customers and the process to find a suitable solution for councils across North Yorkshire is now underway.

He continued: "In the future, the council's services will be focused around customer needs and will allow customers to deal with the council in the way they want, when they want and where they want."

Matthew Gladstone, best value inspector, said: "The council has put an impressive amount of research, effort and commitment into this review, resulting in a very ambitious and forward looking long term vision for the future.

"We believe that the service will probably deliver the improvements identified in the review provided that the recent developments with regard to procurement of a partner and the proposed actions and specific targets, along with the proposed structural changes are turned into a reality."

Best value is a performance framework which requires all councils to deliver services to clear standards of cost and quality and councils must review all their services every five years.

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