AREAS in the district where graffiti and flyposting are at unacceptable levels have increased. That was the verdict of the Audit Commission after carrying out its annual Strategic Performance Assessment of St Albans District Council. The commission found

AREAS in the district where graffiti and flyposting are at unacceptable levels have increased.

That was the verdict of the Audit Commission after carrying out its annual Strategic Performance Assessment of St Albans District Council.

The commission found the number of places where levels of graffiti were unacceptable rose from zero to four percent between 2006/07 and 2007/08.

Other areas where the council's performance declined over the same period were the percentage of housing benefit overpayments recovered and the percentage of planning applications that were determined within eight weeks.

Also, the percentage of responses to the electoral register annual canvass and the number of organised school visits to museums were worse.

But overall the council improved in 16 of the 21 areas inspected since 2006/7.

Highly-improved areas were the percentage of recycled household waste, the number of customer-service centre visitors seen within 15 minutes, the number of viewings of the council's website and the number of visits to the council's museum.

Portfolio holder for resources and efficiencies Cllr Chris Oxley said that the council's efforts to improve its performance were being rewarded by good results in most areas.

He added that they would not be resting on their laurels and would continue to try to improve the few less successful areas.

"We hope residents will help us by applying to be recorded on the electoral register and to visit our museums more frequently. Both will have major benefits for the residents," he said.