Audit Commission

The regeneration service provided by Scarborough Borough Council is 'excellent', with 'promising' prospects for improvement, according to an independent report released today by the Audit Commission.

On a scale from zero to three stars the Audit Commission inspection team gave the service an 'excellent' three stars rating. This was because the service has a good understanding of the area's needs and has focused its work on solving local problems while involving local communities. It has improved the environment whilst supporting job creation. In particular it has encouraged change in the local economy, helping businesses' growth in new industries, particularly those exploiting new technologies.

The service has been key to securing almost £0.5 billion of public and private investment in the area over the last ten years. The impact of the recession on the Council's plans is difficult to gauge and many effects will be outside of its control. Despite this the service's strong track record combined with effective leadership and a strong track record of bringing the public and private sectors together means that residents can look ahead with confidence.

Michael Newbury, Audit Commission senior manager, said:
'These are difficult times for councils and the people and places they serve. The excellence of Scarborough Borough Council's regeneration service means residents, businesses and visitors enjoy improving facilities to use for work and play. This boosts both the quality of life for local people and tourism through offering visitors more opportunities to enjoy the area and therefore benefit the local economy. Excellent partnership working, led by the Council, is also improving the offer to visitors - putting the area in a strong position to benefit from the predicted increase in domestic tourism in 2009.

'The Council has also been successful in attracting new and different types of businesses into the area to make it less reliant upon tourism.. The recession is having an impact on the plans of the Council and its partners and many effects will be outside of its control. Despite this the service's strong track record and the strength of its partnerships means that future prospects for the area are strong.'

Strengths of the service include:

• A good understanding of local needs so that work is focused on tackling local issues and achieving a balance between physical, social and economic regeneration
• Helping create job opportunities and supporting tourism growth
• Developing a more sustainable and diverse economy including growing the digital technology sector
• Gaining a good understanding of business needs and being open and supportive in its approach to working with businesses and partners to provide coherent business support
• Helping to narrow the gap between local unemployment and skills levels at a greater rate than regional and national averages
• Using social and neighbourhood regeneration initiatives to create more sustainable communities through a wide range of community support projects, including a network of community resource centres across the borough that offer business start-up space as well as a wide range of community services and activities. As a result deprivation levels have fallen in Filey and Falsgrave

Weaknesses include:

• Service standards for regeneration activity are not comprehensive and have not been developed in conjunction with other regeneration partners
• More needs to be done to show the value for money of some of the spending on tourism to ensure that the Council and its partners know they are getting the most from their investment and can take action where more can be achieved

To help the service improve, inspectors made a number of recommendations. These include:

• The Council should consider how, through its direct provision of facilities and services, it could impact on the development of a year-round visitor economy
• The Council, with partners, should develop specific service standards for Regeneration services, evaluate performance against them and publicise results. These should be reviewed and refined as new plans within the service are developed

Regeneration is delivered through the Council’s Regeneration and Planning Service. The service is one of the key operational services within the Council and has a dedicated cabinet portfolio holder with a remit for Regeneration, Strategic Planning and Community Development. The service has three units: Economic Development, Community Partnerships and Planning and was restructured in early 2008 as part of a senior management review.

The net revenue budget for the regeneration and planning services in 2008/09 is estimated at £2.26 million, with a further £4.2 million for tourism and culture. The Scarborough Renaissance Programme has enabled £25 million of public sector funding in major capital projects, which has stimulated significant private sector investment in the town. The Council has indirectly levered around £350 million of private sector investment into the borough over the past 10 years as a result of its investment and activity.

Notes to editors

1. The Audit Commission is an independent watchdog, driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local public services to deliver better outcomes for everyone.
2. Our work across local government, health, housing, community safety and fire and rescue services means that we have a unique perspective. We promote value for money for taxpayers, auditing the £200 billion spent by 11,000 local public bodies.
3. As a force for improvement, we work in partnership to assess local public services and make practical recommendations for promoting a better quality of life for local people.
4. Further details about the role of the Audit Commission can be obtained from - http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk