WEST Devon Borough Council has failed to achieve the coveted Investors in People award after an assessment by a PROSPER adviser.
The borough was first examined in 1994 — six years on the authority has improved on the first assessment but has failed to satisfy all 12 of the Investor in People indicators.
In her report, the assessor, Pam Haines, said the borough was not yet ready to be recognised as an Investor, although it had made 'great strides' to address organisational and people-management issues.
'I have no doubt that with the right action planning and implementation the award will be achieved, over time,' said Ms Haines.
Areas which need work include giving staff feedback and praise, communicating with staff, encouraging staff to attend training courses, implementing a uniform standard of induction training and evaluating the impact of training on success.
David Incoll, chief executive, said West Devon was at the 'half-way stage' towards attaining Investors in People status.
'We have produced an action plan to show how we are going to proceed from here,' he said.
The borough hopes the 17-point plan will bring it up to the required standard by 2003.
The plan includes setting up a steering group, liaising with other authorities which have already been through the Investors process, reviewing the staff induction programme and analysing training expenditure.