Councillors are to consider an annual progress report on services and planned improvements ahead of the document being posted to all residents.

In line with central government requirements every householder in York will get a copy of the report, 'Working together', with council tax bills in March once a final version has been approved by the council.

Members of the council's Executive will consider the document at their meeting on Friday (February 21). It shows how well the council is performing across a range of services, how the council intends to secure improvements and also reports on the council's programme of Best Value reviews - the mechanism for reviewing and ensuring improvements in services.

The report focuses on performance in a number of key areas related to the council's corporate objectives including education and achievement, the economy, crime and security, the environment, health and well-being, services for all and corporate health.

The council scores 'above average' in almost 70 per cent of the performance indicators used by the government to assess local government services - with only six per cent of indicators in the bottom quarter.

Meanwhile, City of York Council has the lowest spend of any unitary authority in the country at £766 per person compared to the average £925 - a combination of low central government funding and comparatively low council tax.

However, while 'Working together' reflects the authority's success in securing a 'Good' status in last year's first-ever round of Comprehensive Performance Assessments of local government, the report outlines weaknesses too.

The report therefore identifies the need and plans for improvements - even where the council is already providing high standards in areas such as education, the economy and social services.

Leader of the council Councillor Dave Merrett, said, "The council is not resting on its laurels. We are working to address any weaknesses and even where we are performing better than most other authorities we are determined to seek improvements. We want to be rated 'excellent' not just 'good'."

The report also includes details of improvements the council is planning over the next year with a list of 50 priorities across the corporate objectives. Detailed targets are listed including commitments to providing:

extended CCTV coverage to help reduce crime and the fear of crime a greater push against crime through ward committees increased coverage of the city's kerbside recycling scheme and improved facilities for waste recycling at the Foss Islands depot an action plan to ensure even more older people can continue to live in their own homes developed funding for the city's swimming pools and complete the major improvement of Rowntree Park speedier processing of housing benefit claims reduced reliance on bed and breakfast for temporary homeless accommodation improved public access to council buildings continued development of a local strategic plan for the city through the 'Without Walls' partnership Councillor Merrett said, "We are proud of our record in delivering high quality services and in achieving significant improvements in other areas. "However, we still need to address poor performance in some services and we are setting out how we are intending to do that in this document.

"We have to publish this document but 'Working together' is our statement of intent for the next year. It shows what we have achieved, where we need to do things better, how we intend to go about it and - crucially - what practical measures and improvements we are aiming to bring about for the people of York." END