Lib Dem/Tory-run Southwark Council’s overall performance has fallen from ‘good’ to ‘adequate’ according to the Audit Commission’s annual inspection. Southwark had the joint second worst inspection report in London.

The council’s failure to improve council housing and a sharp deterioration in its social care services were singled-out in the report for particular criticism. Southwark is one of only two councils in London to receive a ‘red flag’ for its housing services, which means that housing problems are “not being tackled adequately”

Southwark Labour’s Leader, Cllr Peter John, has accused the Liberal Democrat Leader of the Council Nick Stanton of being ‘out of touch with reality’ in his reaction to the report. Cllr Stanton has not yet acknowledged that the council has been downgraded in any of his statements to the local press.

Southwark Labour's Leader, Cllr Peter John said:

"This is an indictment of the Lib Dems’ performance over the last year. Behind this bad report are council failures which are having a massive impact on residents’ lives. Whether it’s children growing up in unfit council housing or older residents struggling with day-to-day tasks because they’ve had their social care taken away from them, this Lib Dem administration has failed them.

“The Lib Dems’ response to this is completely out of touch with reality. They should be thinking hard about why they’ve lost a star and how the council needs to improve, not desperately clinging onto the one or two things the council has been praised for. Lib Dem Leader Nick Stanton sounds like he’s ready to pop open the champagne; he should be convening a crisis meeting.”