Rugby Borough Council in national first

The award recognises that the council has a good understanding of the communities that it serves, and provides customer-focused services that meet their needs.

A team of independent reviewers coordinated by the Local Government Association gave the award after visiting the council over a three-day period earlier this week. They saw council staff delivering services first-hand, visited communities, and met with representatives from partner authorities, and voluntary and community organisations.

They found an organisation that has responsive, flexible services, and staff who were focused on delivering excellent services.

They found numerous examples of ways that the council had effectively worked with communities and tailored services to suit their requirements, including:

• the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Centre, where the council had asked the Rugby Disability Forum to specify their access requirements. The centre is fully accessible and has better family facilities as a result.
• a project with neighbouring authorities and the Homes Improvement Agency, which has resulted in residents getting their homes adapted far quicker than previously. This means that residents are able to stay in their own homes, with an improved quality of life, for longer. 
• working with young people to provide new skate and parkour facilities in locations they could use - and asking them to choose the designs.

The overwhelmingly positive findings also identified some areas to make improvements, including sharing success within the authority, and making sure that voluntary sector partners are told about ways they have helped to improve things for residents.

Cllr Derek Poole, Deputy Leader of Rugby Borough Council and Chairman of the council's Equalities Steering Group, said: "I am extremely proud that Rugby is the first shire borough to have been awarded the "excellent" rating by the review team. Here at Rugby we have taken a very different approach to equality to almost every other council: we have focused on delivering great services that are tailored to each and every customer, no matter who they are or what their need may be. I am thrilled that this unique way of doing things has, again, been recognised for delivering great services for our residents."

Cllr Craig Humphrey, Leader of Rugby Borough Council, said: "The good news just keeps on coming. With a three per cent tax rebate already announced this week Rugby residents know they are getting good value for money, but this finding also shows that they are receiving good, responsive services that are tailored to their needs.

"We have already offered to share our success with other councils: whether they are a county council, unitary authority, metropolitan borough or shire district, I am more than happy to show them the Rugby way."

The reviewer's full report will be available on the council website once it has been published.