LANCASTER City Council has become a lean, green recycling machine according to figures released by a government watchdog last week.

The Audit Commission - the body that keeps an eye on the way local authority's operate - has released its report for 1994/95 and given the city council a glowing environmental review.

According to the report, the city council has the highest recycling rate in the North West and those figures were worked out well before the council's new kerbside collection scheme was put into operation. In addition, the Audit Commission indicators have placed Lancaster at the top of the Lancashire chart when it comes to responding to complaints as well as praising the city's council housing service.

Speaking after the release of the report, council leader Stanley Henig said: "Once again, I'm pleased to see the council has performed very well.

"The figures demonstrate commitment to quality services, supporting local jobs, provision of decent homes, protection of the environment and enhancing community life."

Figures within the report show that the city council's housing department takes just under two weeks to relet council houses, that's three weeks quicker than the average for Lancashire.

Countywise Lancaster also had the smallest percentage of empty properties and homeless families spent less time in guest houses.

Ian Barker, chairman of the housing committee, was delighted and is determined things can get even better.

He said: "We work really hard at this. The quicker we can relet property, the quicker we help people in housing need. These figures show our housing service is better than most comparable authorities.

"Our next target is to reduce waiting time for repairs which we confidently expect this year."

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