The Councils recent Performance and Risk Management Report has shown an overall improvement of 73 percent of its performance indicators from April 2010 to June 2010.

This improvement has happened through a number of key achievements:

The Environment

• The District has five Green Flag Award winning parks, the highest number of any District Council in the region.
• The introduction of innovative schemes to reduce carbon emissions including; solar panels on the Council Office roof to supplement domestic hot water provision.
• Increased commercial glass recycling.
• A Green Space Strategy has been implemented to manage the delivery of improved facilities and amenities in the District.

The Economy

• An increased number of participants on intervention schemes; events and coaching sessions run by Regeneration and LEGI such as; LEO coaching sessions, Outreach Coaching, Aim Higher Scheme, Women in Enterprise Forum.
• Securing funding from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to support and deliver the Women in Enterprise Project across Ashfield, Mansfield and Bolsover.
• Progress with town centre improvement schemes.
• Securing funding for the “Getting There” subsidised bus scheme. Providing better links between the Rurals and the north of the District, supporting access to jobs and training.

People & Communities

• The Ashfield Show was successfully delivered within budget with a key focus on the Community.
• An asset transfer gateway process has been completed and is being used to guide further project development, assisting communities to take control of important local facilities in a sustainable way.
• Support for physical activity and wellbeing in the District have exceeded targets for participation during the year.
• The delivery of thermal comfort improvement works.
• The delivery of the Empty Homes Strategy action plan.

Council Services

• Re-accreditation of Pest Control and Customer Services to Customer Excellence Award.
• Efficiencies have been delivered through service shaping, and service reviews in Planning, Waste Management and Caretaking.
• The achievement of the Member Development Charter has demonstrated commitment to improving the effectiveness of member contributions.

Councillor Trevor Locke said: “This is an excellent improvement over the period of time. I’m very pleased with the performance.”

Ashfield District Council Deputy Leader John Wilmott added: “We have worked hard to restructure the Council and the way it provides services and it gives me great pleasure to see this work begin to pay off, however, this is something which we must continue and improve upon even further.”