In the post-performance management era, there is one key indicator which still counts. Ealing LBC chief executive, Martin Smith, tells Heather Jameson how his council is top of the satisfaction ratings, despite the bumpy ride.

We are, it would seem, in the post performance management era of local government. After decades of ever-increasing inspection with the burden of bureaucracy it has brought with it, the scrapping of the Audit Commission has led to a massive cut in performance statistics.