The councils in the North East are the best performing in the country and we're delighted to be working with them.

This is a dynamic and exciting part England and for the fourth consecutive year, the collective performance of single tier and county councils in the North East has been judged to be the best of any region in England by the independent Audit Commission. The Commission said that all of the North East's largest councils were delivering a high level of service to local people. Read the original Press Release.

Councillor Mick Henry, Chair of the Association of North East Councils, said: "To be confirmed as the best performing region for a fourth consecutive year is an excellent achievement that is testimony to North East councils' commitment to continual improvement."

The Association of North East Councils commissioned Media Friendly to run their Members media training programme in 2007 and this is being rolled out into 2008 with resounding success.

Running at 97% excellence, I just have to share a few of the comments that we've had from the first round of training...