KIRKLEES Council has met 75% of the targets it agreed with the Government.

The challenge to improve local public services highlighted a series of issues.

The council did fail to meet three targets, but is unlikely to be penalised.

Under the Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) the Government and councils negotiate targets for performance and the success governs how much money will be allocated to the authority.

The overall aim of LPSAs is to improve local public services by focusing on targets.

Twelve targets were agreed with the Government for Kirklees. Under the LPSA the targets set a much higher standard of performance than would normally be expected.

Most of the Kirklees targets were exceeded.

These included:

* Helping people, particularly older people, live independently in their own homes.

* Improving education, training and job prospects for children leaving the care of the local authority

* Reducing the number of people killed or injured in road accidents

* Making streets cleaner

* Improving the overall cost effectiveness of the council

* Reducing household burglaries

* Reducing accidents in the workplace and accidents in the home

* Improving health through promoting physical activity and exercise

* Improving the vibrancy of town centres.

The three areas where targets were not met were increasing access to housing for young people, improving job prospects in disadvantaged areas, and improving educational attainment at age 16.

Clr Kath Pinnock, leader of the Council, said: "As is demonstrated from the areas of service on which the targets were based this is very much a team effort.

"The achievement in reaching, and in most cases exceeding the targets, cannot be achieved by the council alone.

"We have very strong and committed partnership working in Kirklees, with the police, health trusts, voluntary and private sector partners. The Government is very tight in the criteria and standards it expects through LPSAs, and it is a tremendous achievement to have exceeded most targets.

"The areas of service where we just fell short of the targets are ones that are being addressed. For example, over the next two or three years an extra £2.5m will be invested in schools to raise education attainment.

"The new housing building programme recently submitted to Government Office for funding includes a strong element of housing for young people and we are working with other agencies on improving employment and training opportunities across the district."