Weak and poor performing councils need all the help they can get and North Lincolnshire Council said it was prepared, if asked, to lend a hand.

In the old Humberside area, the break-up of the county six years ago resulted in the creation of four unitary councils.

Of the four, North Lincolnshire and the East Riding were judged as "good" performers, whereas Hull and neighbouring North-East Lincolnshire were placed in the bottom category of "poor."

The Audit Commission released the findings after an independent review of 150 English councils. The Local Government Association, which represents all councils, wanted to see council leaders back a motion to its general assembly this week that good councils offer support and for weaker councils to accept it.

Leader of North Lincolnshire Council Coun Nic Dakin said: "I will recommend fully that my council participates fully in the improvement agenda.
"Other councils in the region are facing very difficult challenges. If we can make available some officer support to help them improve, we should do so.

"It would be totally wrong to stand aside and do nothing. They only have to pick up the telephone to chief executive, Michael Garnett or myself.
"But the decision, rightly, is theirs. If they feel they don't need our support, that's fine by me. We have a lot to do to keep improving on our performance.

"But we are among a very select band that have the top three-star awards for education and social services, and we are the only unitary council out of 46 in England to gain three stars for our social services.

Having developed some excellent services, we should share knowledge across local government."