CHIPPENHAM town clerk Laurie Brown addressed hundreds of local councils at the launch of the Government's new Quality Councils scheme, to promote best practice.

Mr Brown was a special guest speaker at the prestigious event at the Royal National Hotel in London on Tuesday last week, along with Sir Brian Briscoe, chief executive of the Local Government Association, and Government minister Alan Michael, from the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs.

"I felt proud to share a platform with the minister of state and the head of the main local government association in the launch of the Quality Council scheme, and it is a great tribute to Chippenham," Mr Brown said.

Chippenham Town Council was invited to make a presentation because of its many achievements, such as the Heritage Centre, the rejuvenation of the High Street and the playing fields project.

Mr Brown, who spoke for around 20 minutes, said Chippenham demonstrated how much could be achieved by a forward-thinking town council, committed to delivering services.

Chippenham was presented as an example to the 350 town councils represented at the meeting.

"Chippenham has achieved a certain reputation among town councils in the country.

"I am forever being asked to explain and show what can be done at local council level," he said.

"We have achieved an enormous amount by working with other councils and by being bold enough to provide quality services."

Now local councils up and down the country will be aspiring to Quality Council status, once assessment panels are appointed in June.

Chippenham Town Council already meets the expected criteria to attain Quality Council status.

Once local councils have reached the target they will be in a strong position to talk with district and county councils with the aim of taking on more responsibilities.

Town council leader Sandie Webb said: "It's tremendous. So much work has been done since Laurie Brown became clerk, we haven't looked back.

"We are not a philosophical council, but a council that does things."