BLAENAU Gwent council has escaped being taken into special measures after a watchdog investigation found improvements have been made in the overall running of the authority.

However, the report by the Wales Audit Office out today reveals that although there has been some progress towards tackling key issues such as decision making, developing ways to engage with the public and working with other partners to improve social services and support to vulnerable people, unless inconsistencies and weaknesses in how the council is run are addressed, it is unlikely that the council will sustain significant improvement.

In July the Argus exclusively revealed howthe Audit Office launched a probe into the overall running of the authority after a damning Estyn inspection revealed shocking levels of pupil performance.

After the council was stripped of its executive powers over education, it was feared the council could be taken over by Assembly-appointed commissioners, as happened to Anglesey Council.

However the council has worked hard to turn around its fortunes which is recognised in the report, which praises the difficult decisions made in successfully transferring its housing stock to social landlord Tai Calon, modernising its care of the elderly and improving its education provision with the new £51 million school and sixth form campus at The Works, Ebbw Vale.

Independent and Labour councillors have also joined forces in a bid to bring political stability.

But the report is critical of weaknesses in the collective leadership and says some attitudes and behaviours are continuing to hold the council back.

In particular the report says that council business has been disrupted by parochialism, in-fighting and tactics intended to dominate meetings and stop the council working.

It also says systems set up to run the council are not consistently effective and although arrangements are in place to manage project and performance, they are not used consistently and effectively.

Leader John Mason said: “This report does not recommend any intervention into the running of the council at this time, and also recognises the tough decisions we have already made in order to do better.

“We know more must be done and we are working to address some inconsistencies and weaknesses that have been set out.

“The recent coming together of elected members under newpolitical management arrangements is a crucial step forward, and this commitment to work together means we can deliver an effective response to the report and secure the continuous improvements which will strengthen overall governance at the council.”

The council nowhas 30 days to respond to the recommendations of improvement.

● See tomorrow’s Argus for full report findings, the challenges ahead for the council and reaction.