Under the first round of the new CAA regime – launched under the branding of One Place to the public – 22 local authorities areas were given ‘green flags’ to highlight outstanding environmental performance, while only four were given ‘red flags’ to show the commission’s concerns. Four areas were commended for their transport policies – Leicestershire for better value for money in road improvements, and Warrington, Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire for their public transport.
Eight green flags were awarded to councils for climate change, to Birmingham, Devon, Islington, Kirklees, Southampton, Suffolk, Sutton and Worcestershire.
Three green flags were awarded for waste and recycling, to Bexley, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; and Gloucestershire received a green flag for its response to major flooding. The flags are based on assessments of how councils and their local partners are performing against their own priorities.
London boroughs came out well in the council corporate assessment. Six of the capital’s boroughs scored four, or a ‘performs excellently’ score, alongside eight other councils, and one fire and rescue authority.
Six authorities hit a ‘double whammy’ of scoring four, with two green flags and no red flags. They were: Camden LBC, City of London, Kensington and Chelsea RLBC, Kent CC, Westminster City Council, and Hammersmith and Fulham LBC.
Doncaster was named as the worst area for public services in the country, followed by Harringey LBC.