"POOR value for money" is how a brace of government watchdogs have assessed the Forest of Dean District Council's performance – the worst of any in Gloucestershire.

The blunt report combines statistics from six government watchdogs who've rated all local authorities in England, allowing people to check on how councils, police, fire, health, prison and education services are doing.

Forest of Dean District Council, responsible for 82,000 people, is described as "performing poorly", which means, in some areas it doesn't meet "minimum standards".

The assessment puts the spotlight on a number of failings.

•Planning – good on dealing with major applications but "performance for dealing with both minor and other planning applications has got worse since last year".

•Affordable housing targets have not been met. "In 2008/09 it only delivered 38 affordable houses against a target of 60."

•Failure to meet targets set for employment levels. The target, 81.6 per cent of working age people in employment – the figure achieved: 75.8 per cent.

•A "weak" benefits service, which fails to meet targets for speed of dealing with claims or accuracy.

But the most scathing criticism is reserved for the council's value for money services. To quote: "The council does not yet have a full understanding of the costs involved in delivering its services, or a thorough approach to looking at different ways of delivering them."

Not all is doom and gloom, the council is commended for responding well in emergencies, for securing millions in community and town regeneration grants and exceeding targets on recycling and cutting landfill.

The assessment also recognises that the leadership at the council has been "uncertain" with the retirement of the former chief executive and appointing of a new political leader.

New leader, Peter Amos, who's been at the helm for barely three months, promises strong leadership and improvements ahead and blames the recession for some of the council's failings.

On dealing with minor planning applications he said the council still exceeds government standards but there is a: "determination to do better." But improving quality of decision making may impact on speed of decisions.

On refuse collection: "the highest satisfaction rate in Gloucestershire."

The failure to build enough affordable housing he blames on the downturn in the housing market.

"As we do not build houses, unlike many authorities, we are at the mercy of market forces. Over 400 properties are in the pipeline and should be delivered over the next three years."

Mr Amos also cited the financial crisis for failings in the benefits service and hitting employment targets.

"The current recession has had a significant impact nationally and employment targets were set before the recession began. Benefits caseload has also increased due to the recession and we have recruited more benefits assessors, which means that the speed of benefits processing is now increasing."

On the charge of delivering poor value for money, Mr Amos points out: "We have been marked on year one of a three year improvement plan and as such, in some areas, we could not yet demonstrate that we had made a difference by the end of March 2009."

The watchdog's report is available online from this week at www. direct.gov.uk/oneplace