FURTHER praise has flooded in for the County Council since it was announced that it had been awarded four stars by the Audit Commission earlier today.

FURTHER praise has flooded in for the County Council since it was announced that it had been awarded four stars by the Audit Commission earlier today.

Devon Police Commander Chief Superintendent Jo Tennant has congratulated on Council on it's partnership working: "We work closely in partnership with Devon County Council and would wish to congratulate our colleagues in the Local Authority on this assessment which recognises the extremely high standards consistently achieved by them in serving the communities across Devon".

Teachers' union NASUWT congratulated Devon County Council on achieving a four star rating for their work with young people and school staff: Nigel Williams said "We share with the local authority their concerns about the low levels of funding pupils receive in comparison with other parts of the country. The positive achievements of our young people in spite of the need for better funding is testament to the hard work of the many adults who work in schools throughout the county and the positive support Devon offers to its schools."

Professor Ian Mercer CBE who chaired this year's Napoli Inquiry was equally congratulatory: "That Devon County Council is to be congratulated on achieving a four star rating in the Audit Commission's assessments, and is now an 'excellent council' in its terms, goes without having to be said, except that it does need saying by a Devon resident. On behalf of all those of us who live, breathe and work under the Council's protective and supportive wing, Devon is a splendid place to live in, not least because of the way it is governed".

Praise has also been received by Devon Conservation Forum, Stokenham Parish Council and Salcombe Town Council.

The four star rating - the top mark possible - has been awarded by the Audit Commission as part of its regular Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) inspection looking at the full range of council services and overall value for money.

The County Council is also judged to have shown continued improvement over the past year and has demonstrated "significant progress" against key priorities, under the Commission's "Harder Test" regime that only County Councils and Unitary Councils undergo.

For more quotes from business leaders, community figureheads and politicians click here - http://www.devon.gov.uk/press_cpa_praise_2009