HARLOW Council leader Alan Jones has accused Best Value inspectors of lacking objectivity.

A damning report, published by the Best Value Inspection Service (BVIS), concluded that the council charges local taxpayers too much for the services it provides which are of a poor standard and getting worse.

And to make matters worse, the council costs local people more per head of population than any other district authority in the country.

The findings reinforce concerns raised in a draft version of the report which was leaked to the press in January.

Paul Kirby, regional director of the central region for the Best Value Inspection Service, has told the council that it "must make significant improvements in cost and performance as a matter of urgency".

However, the report doubts that the council has so far shown the ambition or capability to make such improvements.

But Mr Jones said: "We're very concerned about the lack of objectivity in this report. Sweeping statements are made without comprehensive evidence to back them."

Mr Jones has promised to "produce a radical and comprehensive action plan" based on the report, but refused to accept that the council was getting worse, or that its building repairs service, or street care and waste management should be privatised.

The report acknowledged some strengths, such as formal partnerships established by the council which were described as "an emerging strength for the council, provided early efforts do not fall away".

The council's willingness to look elsewhere for advice and examples of good practice and the new management team were also praised.

But the overall message is that the council has a long way to go before it reaches an acceptable level of performance.

Conservative group leader Simon Carter said: "This report is a damning indictment of the last 45 years of Labour rule.

"The Labour group may be quibbling about some of the detail, but overall it shows the culture of the council and it is that culture that has to change."