PLANNING departments at both North Wiltshire and Kennet District Council are celebrating major cash windfalls.

North Wiltshire District Council's planning department has enjoyed a double success the Local Government Chronicle Management Team Of The Year Award and a £680,000 grant from the Government for its radical turnaround in planning delivery.

And Kennet District Council planning service was given £626,764 from the Government in recognition of the quality of its service.

North Wiltshire's Management Team Of The Year Award is made by the Local Government Chronicle, the weekly magazine for local government professionals.

The award is given for improvements in the team and its impact on district council services.

Just one year ago North Wiltshire's planning service was ranked eighth worst in the country and at risk of Government intervention.

A best value review had revealed poor performance, low staff morale, a lack of vision, little political awareness, poor management, no clear leadership and no focus on customers.

Now a new management team and a radical culture change have transformed the service into one which exceeds all Government targets and is ranked as one of the best in the country.

The magazine awards were announced in London on Monday at a ceremony hosted by actress Joanna Lumley.

The Government grants to local authorities, including North Wiltshire and Kennet, were announced by Deputy Prime Minster John Prescott who awarded the money to help planning authorities improve their services.

The money is allocated on the basis of performance, using development control targets, delivery of the local plan and service improvements.

The minister for planning Keith Hill said: "Providing a quality planning service is not just about taking quick decisions, although that is important. This year's allocation criteria rewards a broad range of planning activity."

Authorities are free to spend allocations as they see fit. However they will only receive further reward if they invest in planning and continue to improve or deliver good performance.

North Wiltshire's lead member for planning Coun Doreen Darby described the grant as "brilliant news" for the council.

She said: "This has been achieved by the staff and members working in partnership, creating excellent team spirit and through a great deal of hard work."

Kennet's director of community services Brad Fleet said: "This is great news particularly because the staff have been working so hard.

"We will be able to invest some of the money in other areas, but we won't know how much until we see how much we need to spend on planning."

Kennet councillors recently agreed to use £160,000 from reserves to keep its council tax rise to five per cent, despite a net fall in the amount it receives from Central Government.

Earlier this year Kennet was ranked 12th out of 362 authorities in England in reaching planning targets.

Coun John Booth, chairman of the regulatory committee which deals with planning applications, said: "We see the grant as a just and fitting reward for the unstinting hard work the whole planning team have put in."

Swindon Borough Council was awarded £105,401, and Wiltshire County Council £76,185.