SUNDERLAND has been ranked among the top big city councils for providing best value.

Best Value inspections were introduced by the Government in 2000 to assess the quality and value for money provided by councils.

Of the five reports so far received by Sunderland City Council, community services has received the top three star rating, two others have been given two star ratings and the remaining two have been awarded fair, one star grades.

This puts the council in the top 13 per cent in the country.

Cabinet member with responsibility for best value, Councillor Mel Speding, said: "We have certainly done very well so far, performing particularly well in the areas of culture and environment.

"But what I find particularly pleasing is that all our services are 'above the line' on the Best Value graph.

"That means the inspectors have been particularly impressed by our plans for the future and they believe those services are likely to improve."

The results are echoed in a residents' survey by Mori, which indicated that public satisfaction with the council had risen since last year.

Sunderland's ratings for quality of services and value for money compare favourably with other authorities surveyed by Mori