Bedfordshire CC and Swindon Council have been set free from government monitoring. Both councils had been under the watchful eye of the ODPM for four years after failing to impress in previous comprehensive performance assessments. Bedfordshire was awarded only a one-star rating in the 2005 CPA, but was reported to be ‘improving well'. For Swindon, which was awarded a two-star rating in 2005, the key to disengagement was cash from the ODPM capacity fund and help from other councils, including Kent.
