MORE than £13,000 extra will be spent on a list of additional works by Tavistock Town Council this year.

The council's finance committee agreed the money, made available after an underspend last year, should be allocated to four projects.

Roger Howard, Tavistock's town clerk, told the committee: 'The bottom line is we have actually underspent our budget last year — we did quite well in ratcheting down; it's quite pleasing.'

Members agreed £10,000 should be allocated to the pannier market heating, £1,500 to the advertising budget, £600 to cover the increase in West Devon's 'poop scoop' scheme charges and £1,300 to cover any war memorial move consultation costs.

Members also welcomed the District Auditor's final 'memorandum of matters' report of accounts for 1999/2000 — a 100 per cent audit check on all matters which was 'highly unusual', according to Col Howard.

'A cynical man might have thought they were trying to dig out some dirt,' he said.

Cllr Pat Warne said the report was 'very interesting and valuable'.

'It gives us a breakdown of what, where and why,' she said.

New mayor Norma Woodcock said: 'I would take a positive view of this — I think it should be seen as extremely helpful.'

The final Auditor's report has yet to be published.