The leader of Northumberland County Council was full of praise for his administration's work over the past 12 months at March's full council meeting - but he has been warned there is more work to do.
Speaking at Wednesday's meeting, Conservative leader Coun Glen Sanderson delivered an annual report on the council's performance and said the authority was meeting the recommendations identified in the Max Caller report last summer.
The damning report on governance identified a number of ways in which the council needed to improve and has seen a raft of changes brought in, including a new chief executive.
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Listing some of the achievements from the past year, Coun Sanderson said: "On improving the council, we remain on target to hit all of the recommendations from Max Caller - who, if you recall, was someone I brought in because of some real concerns I had 19 months ago.
"With his help, we have these recommendations which we're progressing ahead with. I have to say thank you to all staff involved in that.
"I'm absolutely sure that Northumberland will play a leading part in devolution for the North East and the North East as a whole. We have trust and respect amongst the leaders to make sure it works.
"The thing I'm most proud of is the money that this council is getting invested into this county - whether it is £16m in Ashington, all the money we're spending in Blyth and the money we're getting from Borderlands that was used for Ad Gefrin in Wooler."
Labour's Coun Caroline Ball, who represents Ashington Central, welcomed the investment in her town - but warned Coun Sanderson there was more still to do.
She said: "We have seen some major achievements in this report, but it is not to be celebrated until mortality rates are equal across the county, until poverty doesn't exist across this county, until all kids have literacy and numeracy and opportunities right across this county.
"I'm over the moon with the £16.4m that Ashington is getting - but I'm not going to ask for more money, I'm going to demand more money. This is not even the start of where we need to be.
"As somebody from Ashington, I want the best for the people of Ashington, but for Bedlington and everywhere else as well - so yes, celebrate today, but there's a hell of a lot of work to do."
And Coun Sanderson agreed with the comments made by his political opponent.
He said: "I know - you're right - and that's why we have made tackling inequalities one of our key priorities. We will get there and do everything we can to make sure everybody has an equal chance in life."
The council's deputy leader, Coun Richard Wearmouth, pointed out that Ashington was also seeing more investment other than the £16.4m from the levelling up fund.
He said: "There is more being done - the Northumberland line, which is a massive, massive achievement in terms of the final finance package that we have secured. There's the funding for the complete rebuild of Ashington College at £45m and people will be able to get on public transport to access it."
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