The council was the UK 's worst council in both 2004 and 2005 , but is now rated as a two star improving adequate council after its recent corporate performance assessment . The council was designated as the UK 's worst performing authority in both 2004 and 2005 , but in 2006 was rated as a two star ` improving adequate ' council and in 2007 it retained its two stars with an ` improving well ' status . In the 2008 corporate performance assessment the city retained its `` improving well '' status but was upgraded to a three star rating .