TAVISTOCK Town Council has received a Christmas cash boost to continue its best value practices.

Tavistock is one of 41 best value councils across the country set to benefit from a long-awaited grant of £45,000 ? which was announced last week by Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford.

Total funds of £1.8-million have been set aside for grants to best value town and parish councils under the Local Government White Paper.

The money covers the extra costs associated with carrying out best value duties.

Subject to Parliamentary approval, Mr Raynsford said he hoped the Government would make a grant of £30,000 in the second half of next year for the year 2003/2004 plus £15,000 in respect of this financial year.

Since April 2000, Tavistock Town Council has been one of only 41 out of more than 8,000 town and parish councils required by the Government to meet Best Value obligations.

Town Clerk Col Roger Howard said Best Value was defined as making arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which council functions were exercised,

Col Howard said: ?For some time Tavistock Town Council, along with the other 40 councils involved, have been making representations to the Government that Best Value at this level actually costs the local taxpayer money.

?While the ethos is very good, unlike the much larger councils there are no large scale expenditures where savings can be made to pay for the extra costs involved.?

Col Howard said it was hoped now the Government had recognised the extra cost involved, further grants of £30,000 a year will be made in future years.

Deputy town clerk Rosie Kehoe said the best example of the success of a best value review was the improvements to the play park facilities in Tavistock as a result of a review conducted two years ago.

The review recommended working towards a teen park facility in Benson?s Meadow, continued improvements to other facilities around the town and identifying a specific section of the annual budget for play park development and maintenance.

There had been some delay over when the Government would make the grant to the 41 councils, but Mr Raynsford said he was pleased to now be able to announce this support for town and parish councils in improving services under best value.

Mr Raynsford said: ?Best value is central to our programme of driving up the quality of local government services.

?Audit and inspection is key to ensuring we see year on year improvements,? he said.

?I appreciate that for smaller councils this can represent a challenge.?

An agreement has also been reached with the Audit Commission to enable the best value councils to benefit from additional savings associated with audit fees. This should amount to a total saving of approximately £10,000 for each council.

Mr Raynsford added: ?This demonstrates the Government?s commitment to best value town and parish councils, and the important contribution they make to the delivery of high quality services for the communities they serve.?