Town Council Achieves Second Quality Status Award

Archived press release

Date Published: 30/07/09

Quality Town Council Logo

Dunstable Town Council has become one of the first Town Council's in Bedfordshire to receive the Quality Town Council Award under the new criteria set out by the six national stakeholders that include the Commission for Rural Communities, the Department for Communities and local Government, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Local Government Association, the National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks.

The Town Council first achieved Quality Town Council status in 2004 but had to reapply as the award only lasts for four years and the criteria for achieving the award has been revised.

To achieve the Award the Council had to submit a portfolio of evidence demonstrating, amongst other things, that the Council communicated effectively with its residents, that local democracy and citizenship was promoted, that an Annual Report was published and that Members of the Council had signed up to a Code of Conduct.

'In the absence of any formal inspection process for the Town and Parish sector of local government, the Quality Town Council scheme augments the annual audit process, evidencing that the Council is a properly managed organisation and promoting the Quality Council logo helps Dunstable Town Council communicate this fact to our local residents'.                                                              

                                                                                             David Ashlee, Town Clerk

'The Award recognises the hard work of all staff and Councillors involved with the Council and hopefully shows the people of Dunstable that the Council is doing a good job'.

                                                                                             Councillor Mrs S A Newton