Lewisham's Mayor, Steve Bullock, has welcomed news that the council has been awarded three out of a possible four stars by the Audit Commission, with its youth engagement work being dubbed 'outstanding'.
The Commission, which rates councils across the country using its annual Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), also found the council to be 'improving well' in line with its priorities and with what local people judged important.
Steve said: "This result is great news and I would like to thank staff and the borough’s young people for all their hard work, which is reflected by our three-star rating. What makes the achievement even more noteworthy is the fact that this rating has been awarded after a significantly more stringent assessment, one the Audit Commission itself calls the 'harder test'.
"Quite rightly, people focus on what is happening in their locality but it is important to recognise the quality and value of services the council offers across the borough.”
The inspectors, as well as noting improvements in satisfaction with some key services , especially in relation to cleanliness and waste collection, were keen to congratulate the council on its Young Mayor scheme.
The project, currently in its third year, has been a marked success culminating in 7,967 of the borough's young people electing Lewisham’s 3rd Young Mayor, Siobhan Bell, last year.
Lewisham Council will also be looking to have the work of staff and the organisation's achievements recognised by two inspections taking place in June that will affect the borough's CPA ratings in the future.
The Corporate Assessment, measuring the council's strategic performance and leadership, and the Joint Area Review, which rates all the services provided for young people by the council and its partners, will be taking place concurrently in June.
This is the fifth year of Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), the annual national analysis of councils’ performance.