JANUARY 16 is boldly circled on district council leader Roger Hollingworth’s 2009 calendar.

That’s the date the Independent Audit Commission will report on the authority’s overall performance, which last year was rated ‘poor’, but the council is cautiously optimistic that the next will be ‘good’.

In 2005 Bromsgrove council was failing and one of the worst performing in the country when it asked the government to step in and oversee its recovery.

In 2007 an assessment of its position put it still in the bottom three per cent, but the foundations had been laid for improvement.

A year later. and following the latest evaluation, council leader Roger Hollingworth was upbeat about the progress made when he spoke at the last meeting of the full council.

“Our self assessment points to us achieving a ‘good’ rating, which would elevate us into the top twenty per cent of all councils,” he said. The meeting also agreed the authority’s future priorities for the next three years.

They highlight housing, sense of community, clean streets and the environment.

Cllr Hollingworth added: “We know the key to success is to listen to residents. Over the last year we have surveyed customers, met the public in their wards and have listened to our staff.

“These priorities mean, despite a reduction in funding from government, we are focusing on the right areas and on things residents feel are important.”

He added residents can expect improvements to the town centre, better Christmas lights, a more flexible car parking regime to encourage people into the town in the evening and more street cleaning.

Housing, particularly affordable, will continue to be a priority, along with crime reduction.