COUNCILS “all over the country are paying attention” to Bracknell Forest Council’s successful performance, the authority’s executive members heard on Tuesday evening (July 17).

A report read: “The picture is positive, showing that we continue to make progress against the overarching measures that were set out in the council plan in 2015”.

Chief Executive Timothy Wheadon commented in the report that the outsourcing of Bracknell Leisure Centre, Coral Reef and Downshire Golf Complex, as well as savings in adult social care of more than £1m - achieved “whilst improving the experience for the people we support” - and the moving of the council from Easthampstead House to Time Square all highlighted council objectives that “went especially well”.

Furthermore the borough’s libraries are set to meet their targeted £400,000 of savings, but there was a delay in the implementation of technology that led to these savings.

However Mr Wheadon also explained that the council was facing some challenges, including retaining and recruiting key staff.

Despite this the Chief Executive wrote that the “The current vacancy rate of 9.8% in this area of our work I am sure is the envy of many local authorities around the country.”

Other objectives that went “not quite so well” included the council failing to meet its recycling target by 5%, the number of single people with complex needs continuing to regularly spend nights in B&Bs paid for by the council and also higher sickness levels amongst Adult Social Care Health and Housing staff.

The report noted that more than 60% of actions are on target to be completed within their timescales, while under 15% of actions were at risk of falling behind or had fallen behind schedule.

Council leader Paul Bettison said: “I am concerned that none of my colleagues become complacent.

“I know that councils all over the country are paying attention to the success we are having.”