PLENTY of strengths but some weaknesses to work on.

That was the summary of the initial findings from the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) for local government after its six-strong team spent a week taking a close look at the council and how local government works in Bury.

Areas for improvement were identified and strengths praised following the "warts and all" review.

They had been invited in by the local authority as part of its on-going determination to improve services for local people.

Specific areas highlighted as success stories included the council's commitment to adapt and change its working structure; the commitment and abilities of councillors and employees; the high quality education service and the pioneering Excellence for Elders project; the nationally-respected Pinfold Lane Centre; the community safety wardens and the newly-introduced planning website.

At the same time, the IDeA team made it clear that the council should do more to unlock the latent talent within its own organisation, look to further strengthen and improve its partnerships with outside organisations and maintain its forward momentum in relation to the new committee structure adopted by the local authority. Communication, both internally and externally, was another area that the IDeA team felt needed considerable improvement, along with greater learning opportunities for all, with particular emphasis on the skills required by the new structures and new ways of working.

Slipping back into "comfortable" old ways of operating is not an option.

Introducing his team's findings, and making it clear that their role was certainly not to "name and shame", leader David Winchurch, chief executive with Walsall Council, told council officials: "This is the end of what has been a long but enjoyable week.

"You invited us to take part in a peer review and that is a very brave thing to do. It is to your infinite credit. It is inevitable that what we have seen and heard is only a snapshot and will move on, even next week.

He went on: "However, it does provide you with a benchmark as an objective measure of where you are starting from, in your quest for future improvement."

Bury Council leader Councillor Derek Boden, welcoming the IDeA findings, stressed: "This is just the start of the process.

"We look forward to receiving the team's full report, which will be shared as widely as possible, both inside and outside the council.

"t has been very useful to receive a preliminary indication of their findings. Work will now start at officer and member level to prepare an improvement plan to embrace the helpful points the team has raised."

The IDeA team comprised Mr Winchurch, two councillors - William Newman of Barnsley and Chris Heinitz from Wakefield - the assistant chief executive in the London Borough of Newham Ita O'Donovan, Jon Dunn, managing partner with the Odyssey Management Consultancy and Adele Wilter, review manager from the Improvement and Development Agency.

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