Sutton leading the green charge, Government inspector says

The council was awarded a green flag for its attempts to achieve its green targets in the Audit Commission’s first ever Comprehensive Area Assessment.

It also noted that Sutton was the first One Planet Living area in the country.

However the CAA found adult re-offending rates for those under probation supervision had deteriorated and is in the worst 20 per cent in the country.

Educational attainment gaps between some groups of children and young people were also found to be too wide and are not improving fast enough.

The report said the Council has only recently started to develop some longer term plans – for example, to build the local economy.

However the council was judged to have performed well overall.

Despite the generally positive report, the council called for the CAA inspection, which costs about £100,000, to be scrapped.

Leader of the council, Councillor Sean Brennan said: “We applaud the drive for greater accountability but the industry that goes into these reports isn’t value for money.

“We hope this year’s CAA process is the death knell for expensive, remote national inspections.”

The report said the council is leading the way nationally in creating an environmentally sustainable area for residents.

More residents are using public transport, cycling and walking.

Crime is low and the fear of crime is reducing.

Reported crime such as burglary, robbery, theft from motor vehicles, sexual offences and violence against the person had all risen or fallen by minor percentage points, but all were deemed an average score when compared nationally.

Services for vulnerable people and those needing care and support are good.

However the percentage of small businesses in an area showing employment growth for Sutton was derteriorating and in the worst 20 per cent at 12.85 per cent.

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