North Devon DC kicked-off its first CPA results with a ‘weak' score in 2003. Now, it is one of the fastest-improving councils in the country. John Sunderland explains how

October 2003, and five months into a newly-elected council, North Devon DC was labelled as ‘weak'. It was a tough time, with local newspapers carrying damning front-page headlines. We went through the usual process – disbelief, anger, denial and finally, acceptance.