County councillors and officers are this week inspecting the results of a report charting Hertfordshire's performance in its delivery of services.

The Audit Commission outlined key areas of performance within the county council's environment, social services, community information and fire and rescue services in the report comparing all 35 county councils in England for 1996-97.

This is the second report published by the Audit Commission -- the first published two weeks ago, placed Hertfordshire's education service in the top ten of all county councils in eight of its key performance indicators.

County councillors and officers will now look at the latest report in more detail to identify the successes achieved as well as looking at ways to enhance the service to the people of Hertfordshire.

Chairman of the county council's policy committee John Metcalf said: "There are some real high points in the report for the county council.

"The most notable being top of the national league for response to repairing potholes and pavements.

"But there's no room for complacency. We need to review the indicators in more detail for all we can learn from them."

For its library service Hertfordshire came 15th out of 35, with just over nine million books being issued by the county council's libraries last year -- equalling 9.48 books issued for every Hertfordshire resident, who made on average 7.5 visits to public libraries.

It was good news about potholes and damaged pavements, with the council scoring a 100 per cent record for the number of repairs being made within 24 hours of being reported, placing Hertfordshire equal first in the country.

But the county council conceded more pedestrian crossings are needed to cater for people with disabilities. Only 45 per cent of crossings have such facilities, according to the Audit Commission report, which ranked Hertfordshire 32nd out of 35.

However, the council stressed that from last year it has increased the number of crossings by 22 per cent and all new crossings installed will be adapted with facilities for disabled people.

Social services in Hertfordshire was ranked tenth out of 35. Seventy-three per cent of people in the county who received help from the authority, were given a statement of what their needs were and how they would be met.

And attendance standards were met in 96 per cent of all property fire call outs to the county's Fire and Rescue Service during 1996-97, placing Hertfordshire 15th out the 35 county councils.

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