MONMOUTHSHIRE County Council’s performance across a range of national performance indicators has seen significant improvement for a third consecutive year.

Figures released show the authority is one of the best in the country with 84 per cent of all indicators experiencing improvement while nearly half ranked among the top performing authorities in Wales.

Highlights included better results at all key stages of education, reductions in the numbers of people delayed in hospital while social care arrangements were made and the consistently high recycling rate.

At the other end of the spectrum the council, for the third consecutive year, had a reduction in indicators ranked amongst the lowest performing in Wales.

The authority maintained its commitment to improve services and outcomes for the people it serves.

The Partnership Administration focused its resources on three areas - education, the protection of vulnerable people and promoting enterprise.

It also introduced a fourth priority, maintaining locally accessible services.

The ‘performance bulletin’ can be seen at www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/improvement

Key messages included improved educational outcomes for the core subject indicator at Key Stage 2 and Key stage 3 - and an increase in the number of students achieving five GCSEs grade A*-C in English or Welsh and Maths.

The number of people delayed leaving hospital while social care arrangements were put in place dropped to just 13.

The lowest level of older people needing local authority-funded residential care in Wales was maintained and significant improvements were delivered in five areas of identified under-performance in children’s services.

Some 122 businesses were able to start-up in the year with support from Monmouthshire Business and Enterprise and partners.

Monmouthshire’s residents continued to recycle and compost their waste helping sustain a high recycling rate at 63 per cent.

Council Leader Peter Fox said, “I am pleased to see our continued focus on service delivery for local communities and improving our performance has been reflected in many service areas.

“It is also equally pleasing that we have improved our performance compared to other councils in Wales and that we are one of the nation’s top performers.”

The council’s Improvement Plan 2015/17, available at www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/improvement, sets out what the council aims to do in the year ahead.