Plymouth City Council says the assessment is not a true reflection

The Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) ranks the authority as "poor", down from its previous rating of "weak".

Plymouth is the country's only new entry on to the "poor" list.

Social services for children, housing and leisure services are all well below average.

But council leaders say a lot of the information used is years out of date and things have already got better.

The council appointed a new chief executive, Mike Robinson, in September and a number of changes have been made.

Within 12 months time it expects to be rated as fair, with the possibility of being classified as good the following year.

Torbay improves

Mr Robinson said: "The CPA results are disappointing, but it's understandable bearing in mind the fact that it relates to inspections and performance indicators which are sometimes two years old."

Torbay progressed from "poor" to "weak" and the authority was told it was making "encouraging progress".

Managing director Richard Painter, an experienced local authority trouble-shooter who was brought in earlier this year, said the authority was now moving in the right direction.

He said: "I am a pretty tough individual and I expect results.

"I haven't been brought here to fail and at the end of my three-year term of office I want to be seen to have played an important part in helping to turn Torbay around."

Devon County Council retained its rating as a "good" council.