County Council: Should Try Harder

4.09.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 18th Mar 2008

Zoé Patrick speaking at the County Council's Cabinet meeting today picked out three areas where the Council's performance needed urgent improvement.

• Delayed discharges from hospital - the number of people held up in hospital after they are medically fit for discharge is 20% higher than it should be. Zoé said, "We must get on top of this urgently. People want to be able to go home as soon as the doctors say they can - it is a shame the County Council is holding things up."

• Educational attainment - officers warn that this target to improve the percentage of children achieving 5 GCSEs is unlikely to be met. Zoé said, "I hope that there is action under way to address this unhappy situation as soon as possible."

• Adult skills - only 37% of adults participating in a scheme to give them vocational skills needed for employment have achieved the required level. Zoé said, "It is a pity about these low figures. Unfortunately, we know that the Learning & Skills Council concentrates on skills rather than the social aspect of courses, whereas many people want to participate in learning for pleasure."