Star performance

摘要

Jane Moore discovers the strategy one council has used to secure its three-star Audit Commission rating. Take a stroll around leamington spa, Warwick or Kenilworth and it's plain to see that parks and open spaces are as important as any of the castles or regency architecture typical of the region. Running through all three towns and the outlying rural area is a rich seam of civic pride that permeates Warwick District Council's members, officers and employees. "It's a team effort," says parks manager Nigel Bishop. "All the staff within the parks unit. policy and development staff, the council members and working groups and the contractor Glendale have worked hard to make our parks and open spaces worthy of three stars." Bishop's enthusiasm is infectious and drove the parks policy long before Best Value was even thought about. He arrived at WDC in 1989 at the start of compulsory competitive tendering. By 1991, Jephson Gardens, the main park in the centre of Leamington Spa, had a 30-year managementplan in place. including major refurbishment of paths, pavilions and other features. In 1996, the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the council 2.89 million pound towards the 4.3 million pound scheme. "The Jephson Gardens story is one of partnership betweenourselves, the county council, Warwickshire College and donations and support form the public," says Bishop.