April sees a unique anniversary - as North Lanarkshire Council is ten years old.

In this month in 1996 the 32 local authorities in Scotland were created following a reorganisation of local government. North Lanarkshire Council was set up from the former districts of Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Monklands, Motherwell and part of Strathkelvin, and took over some of the functions previously carried out by Strathclyde Regional Council.

Commenting on the significant changes that have taken place in the last ten years, Council Leader Councillor Jim McCabe says:

"The creation of the new council provided a great many challenges for elected members and officials in the early years. We had to bring together the working practices and policies of the three former authorities and develop services that met the needs of all the communities in North Lanarkshire. This was all done with significant underfunding from the government, which meant we had to make reductions in some services and personnel initially. However, as financial settlements from the government improved, we were able to rebuild services and create local jobs. Throughout this we have managed to keep council tax increases to a minimum – we have one of the lowest overall increases in Scotland – and our rent levels have also been maintained at the lowest possible.

"The last ten years have also seen significant developments in the way that local government operates as well as the political context in which it exists with the creation of the Scottish Parliament. The range of services that the council provides directly or in partnership with other agencies has increased and we have far greater responsibilities than previously.

"We have taken time to look carefully at how we deliver local services and how we make it easier for people from all backgrounds and circumstances to access the services they need. The customer contact centre which allows residents to pay bills, book facilities and report environmental faults by phone has been a clear success. But perhaps a less obvious example is the way that we support people with a disability to live independently in their own homes instead of relying on traditional day care services. In other words we make the services fit the needs of the individual and not simply provide one general service for everyone.

"While we believe we have achieved a lot, we also recognise that we have still a lot of work to do. We want to continue to regenerate our town centres, improve employment opportunities, work with the health services to improve the health record in the area, and use technology to improve access to services. We are looking forward to working with communities and partners to face the challenges ahead."

In the last 10 years, the council has achieved a great deal but the ten developments that have or will make the most significant impact on the area are:

• The work to transform the former Ravenscraig steelworks site into an area ready for the largest regeneration project in Europe will help revitalise the area with housing, shops, leisure facilities, transport links and business opportunities.

• Education 2010 will see the creation of 24 modern new schools and associated community facilities through a £150 million public private partnership deal.

• From the background of the decline of the steel and other manufacturing industries, the council has worked with partners to help create new business and job opportunities in different sectors to give an overall 13.4% growth in jobs.

• Four public private partnerships were set up to deliver services in roads maintenance and housing maintenance in an innovative way that benefits residents and the council, and has turned out the difficulties the face faced with the former DLO.

• Investment in home support services has quadrupled from £5 million to £20 million to provide older people and other vulnerable people with flexible care services that meet their particular needs and allow them to remain in their own homes.

• The council is leading the way in creating apprenticeships and other training opportunities for young people to give them the skills needed for a rewarding career. Modern apprenticeships have been created in grounds maintenance and vehicle maintenance, and many young people are involved in the Skillseekers programme in council departments.

• Recycling rates have improved dramatically from 1.3% to more than 25% thanks to a programme of household collections and public information, which is part of the successful Streetsmart initiative. This co-ordinates litter picking, refuse collections, graffiti removal and other services that have helped improve our environment.

• The opening of ten First Stop Shops, a customer contact centre and an interactive web site – all of which makes it easier for residents to access services in a way that suits them

• The decision to retain our council housing stock has allowed the council to make significant investment in improving the standard of our homes and involve tenants in decision-making through our tenant participation strategy. The council is now the largest social landlord in Scotland.

• More than 100 people with a disability have job thanks to the council's supported employment scheme which matches the skills and abilities of individuals to jobs within the council and local businesses. The initiative is in response to what people with a disability told us they wanted – a chance for a real job earning real wages.

Depute Provost Tom Curley has paid tribute to the people of North Lanarkshire saying:

"I know I can speak for all those who have served as Provost since 1996 when I say that it has been an honour and a pleasure to represent North Lanarkshire. In this role, the council has been able to formally recognise the contributions of many thousands of people who have helped make North Lanarkshire a better place through their charity and voluntary work or through achievements in their field of work. The wonderful facilities that we have in North Lanarkshire and our expertise in many fields has also brought us visitors from all over the world. One of the particular highlights was the World Rowing Masters Regatta at Strathclyde Country Park and we hope that we may be able to support Glasgow's bid for the Commonwealth Games in 2014."

The council will produce a special edition of its newsletter North Lanarkshire News in June which will highlight in more detail the achievements of the last ten years and look ahead to how the council will work with its communities for the future.