A COUNCIL has entered a national competition to be named the best in Britain.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has confirmed it is taking part in the Local Government Chronicle Council of The Year award.

It is one of a number of contests the council has entered -- most of which will be announced in March next year.

Council leader Bill Taylor today said he felt the council had every chance of winning the honour. He said: "Since becoming a unitary authority, I think we have achieved a lot.

"We have received accolades from various bodies for our work right across the council, including leisure, regeneration, social services and education.

"The feedback I have had so far is that people are impressed with our application for the award and I do expect us to do very well."

The council has submitted a brochure listing their achievements. The competition rules stipulate it must be no longer than 3,500 words.

Achievements include raising satisfaction rates in the council's work from 49 per cent to 59 per cent, while half of the new executive board are women and 25 per cent are of Asian heritage.

The council has also transferred its houses into the private sector, opening up the possibility of millions of pounds being spent on improvements.

The borough is also being used as an example of urban regeneration and its new committee structure -- complete with scrutiny committees, which examine councillors' decisions -- are being hailed as a national benchmark. It has also launched its public-private partnership with Capita, which has seen much of the council's administration work pass to the private sector.

And it has also signed a 13-point Public Service Agreement with the Government, for which it will receive around £275,000 for each target it achieves by 2004.

Coun Taylor added: "We are now trusted by the Government and other agencies to just get on with the job.

"The fact that we have been placed among the top 20 most improved social services authorities shows people that we do what we say we will."

The council has also entered the contest to be one of the Queen's Jubilee.

The council has also submitted request to obtain beacon status for community legal services, fostering business growth and libraries.

The council already has beacon status for education, meaning Blackburn with Darwen staff are used elsewhere in the country to help failing areas improve.