GOOD news for Ross Town Council that has become only the second town in the whole of Herefordshire to be awarded quality council status. In the county there are only six other councils with this status.

At the Town Council meeting on Monday evening (April 16th) Cllr Robertson said it was a significant development for the council and the town and was thanks, in no small part, to the efforts of Town Clerk, Denise Mason, and Deputy Town Clerk, Rachel Lewis.

The Quality Parish and Town Council Scheme was launched in 2003 following the Government's Rural White Paper, 2000. The aim of the Scheme is to provide benchmark minimum standards for parish and town councils.

In order to achieve Quality Status, parish and town councils must demonstrate that they have reached the standard required by passing several tests. These are: Electoral Mandate, qualifications of the clerk, Council meetings, communication and community engagement, annual report, accounts, code of conduct, promoting local democracy and citizenship, terms and conditions, and training.

Ross Town Councils application to Quality Council Status was held up by the Chief Executive of HALC (Herefordshire Association of Local Councils) as very good example.