WITH THREE OUT of four stars awarded by public spending watchdog the Audit Commission, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has come a long way in the two years since it got exactly zero. Prospects are brighter for the 120,000-plus residents it serves and the 619 staff, who give it an overall positive score for Wellbeing that ranks 24th best among all 75 organisations on this list. Their health does not suffer because of work (72%) and deadlines are realistic (62%, and 10th). People are not stressed (68%) and are happy with the balance between work and home (63%). Employees have been at the council for 12 years on average and 94% (579) have annual salaries of £35,000 or less. www.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk
