COUNCILS have reacted with anger, delight and indifference to a government report on their performance.

Earlier this week the Audit Commission, an independent government body, published its Oneplace report on all local authorities in the country, rating them from one to four, with four being the highest.

Gravesham Council received a two rating, Dartford Council received a three, and Sevenoaks District Council, which oversees Swanley, was given full marks.

The report said Gravesham Council “performs adequately” and is “an organisation that meets only minimum requirements”, which has angered leader Councillor Mike Snelling.

He says the council has contacted the commission to voice its objections to the report, which “does not reflect the positive comments in other Audit Commission documents on the improvements the council has achieved.”

He said: “All the challenges faced by the new administration were immense and it is pleasing to see recognition of the way we have responded to those challenges in the report, especially the financial management of the council.

“But I do support our officers’ view that there are unjustified criticisms levelled in the report.

“The chief executive will be seeking a meeting with the Audit Commission to directly explore these concerns.”

Dartford Council was described as “an organisation that exceeds minimum requirements” and “performs well” by the report.

Council leader Councillor Jeremy Kite said: “I’m obviously delighted the report has found us to be performing well, better than many councils around us.

“However, it matters more to me what Dartford’s residents think about the council rather than the central government.”

Sevenoaks District Council was one of only four councils, out of 356 in England, to four out of four, putting it in the top one per cent nationally.

Council leader Councillor Peter Fleming said: "In Sevenoaks we get one of the very lowest grants per head of population in England.

“Yet the Oneplace review demonstrates it is possible, even with modest resources, to provide the very best services to our residents."