Rossendale and Watford councils have committed themselves to improving their delivery of public services after scathing inspection reports by the Audit Commission last week.
Rossendale has appointed James Gravenor as interim chief executive to help overhaul the organisation.

Funds have been allocated to recruit more housing benefit officers. No one from the council was available for comment as Housing Today went to press.

Dorothy Thornhill, Watford's Liberal Democrat mayor, said that in future the council would be "doing fewer things, but doing them better".

Alan Clark is to step down as Watford's chief executive, and the council is considering cutting staffing costs. Other objectives include reducing council tax to bring it in line with the Hertfordshire average.