It's Local Area Agreement (LAA), which outlines the council's main priorities in areas such as learning, the environment and improving health, shows that at the end of 2009/10, it had fallen well short in a number of areas.

The main Labour opposition's Corporate Services spokesperson, Coun. Julie Gunnell, said she feared the trend could continue as the Government makes cuts to vital services, commenting:

"The main messages from the LAA end of year report are that targets on health and physical activity such as sport are not being met. The obesity problem that so desperately needs addressing is getting worse in year six school pupils. The under 18 conception rate is beyond the reduction target, which, with Government cuts to teenage pregnancy, does not bode well.

"But even in areas where the council was said to be doing well in the last audit inspection, such as services to disabled children, it has fallen well short of its target for 2009/10.

"And although educationally York is seen as a good city, narrowing the attainment gap between the least well off and their peers is proving a real problem. What is concerning about this is the problem appears to be worsening, not being reversed.

"I would give to credit where it is due on schools' improvement in offering high quality PE and sport, and the Police's efforts on reducing levels of acquisitive crime, but the council's failings on leisure provision are proving damaging to its health and culture targets. It should really consider this if it is serious about meeting future targets in these areas".