A COUNCIL named the best in Britain was today urged not to rest on its laurels after reports revealed it performed below par in some key areas.

Two studies by Nottinghamshire County Council comparing Blackburn with Darwen to other councils have been disclosed to councillors. One compared them with other unitary authorities, while the other pitched them against all other local authorities.

In total, 155 performance indicators were pitched against other authorities for the year 2000/2001. Figures for 2001/2002 will be available over the coming months.

The results revealed that 45 of the council's services were rated to be among the bottom 25 per cent alongside other unitary authorities.

A total of 39 services were found to be in the top quarter of the league table, with 71 somewhere inbetween. Against all local authorities, 47 services were ranked among the bottom 25 per cent, 36 in the top quarter and 72 inbetween. Overall the council came 11th when compared with all other councils, while Lancashire County Council came in 77th out of 150.

But Coun Colin Rigby, leader of the Conservative Party, said: "We have one of the highest council tax bandings for all unitary authorities in the country so our taxpayers pay more yet it is obvious some of the services just aren't up to scratch. People have the right to expect more. "

Areas which are deemed to be among the country's worst performing include:

Numbers of pupils leaving school with at least one GCSE;

High numbers of pupils being excluded;

High numbers of over 65s in residential care;

High number of children in council cares;

Low percentage of household waste recycled and high percentage placed into landfill;

Poor conditions of roads and low expenditure on light repairs;

Low percentage of library users satisfied with the service;

Length of time in processing benefit claims;

Length of time to remove fly-tipping;

Poor council tax collection figures.

The worst performing department was environmental services, which had 69per cent of its performance indicators rated as 'poorly performing.'

The best was environmental health and consumer protection, which includes licensing and trading standards, who had none of their performance indicators in the bottom 25 per cent.

Chairman Dave Hollings said: "These figures are a benchmark against other authorities and I hope they will be used by the overview and scrutiny committees when they decide which areas to study over the year." Coun Ashley Whalley, who was in charge of regeneration during the period the figures were compiled, said: "There are weaknesses to these figures in that we are often a victim of circumstances unique to us.

"It may be we can't improve unless we get more money to improve things."

Harry Catherall, executive director for community and personal said that new figures would be available in June.