LOCAL Government minister Nick Raynsford stressed that the Compre-hensive Performance Assessment was "not about scoring points for the sake of it".

He explained: "We introduced the assessment to drive improvement in local government and that's exactly what it is doing.

"Better public services make a difference to people's lives.

"Today's results are not the end of the story. We expect all councils, no matter how well they have scored today, to continue the drive to make public services better in a cost-effective way.

"But councils should be aware that better performances cannot come at an unreasonable cost to the taxpayer. We expect to see council tax rises next year in low single figures."

Referring specifically to councils like Swindon which have been branded poor, he said: "The last year has been about putting in place the building blocks for better services.

"Improvement may not be immediate, but I know that a lot of hard work has been put in over the last year. I hope to see further upward movement over the coming months."

A carrot for improvement in Swindon is the chance to share in the spoils of success, such as being allowed to take advantage of the freedoms and flexibilities for trading independently, made possible for the elite in the Local Government Act 2003. Neighbouring Dorset was one of only two councils in the south-west to be declared excellent.

The other was Corn-wall, Bath and North East Somerset, South Glouces-tershire and Gloucester-shire were good.

Bristol, Wiltshire, North Somerset and Som-erset were grouped as fair.

Swindon and Plymouth propped up the south-west league table.

Explaining exactly why Swindon was graded poor, Wailim Wong, of the Deputy Prime Minister's office, said: "Performance management is ineffective and resources are not used to the best advantage.

"Poor councils offer inadequate services and do not have the leadership and managerial capacity or focus to improve them.

"Most poor councils are trying to make improvements to services, but lack the focus and clear priorities to do so effectively.

"Engagement with local people does not translate into positive changes or better services for the community.

"Without external support, the efforts that many poor councils are making to improve services for their citizens are unlikely to lead to a lasting change."