HUTTON Parish Council is celebrating after being given quality council status. The prestigious title is awarded by the National Association of Local Councils to show that a council is functioning well with little room for improvement. Councils are assesse

HUTTON Parish Council is celebrating after being given quality council status.The prestigious title is awarded by the National Association of Local Councils to show that a council is functioning well with little room for improvement.Councils are assessed on various criteria including how meetings and committees are run, how well villagers and the press are informed of news and the handling of finances and records of minutes.Council clerk Andrew Basterfield said: "We are delighted. It's been a very time-consuming exercise but it's a great achievement."It's not until you look at the council you see all the good things it's done. It also identified things we could be doing in the future."The quality award lasts for four years and then the council has to apply again and submit 12 months worth of minutes and financial reports to check how it is functioning.Mr Basterfield said one of its aims now is to improve communication with the public and North Somerset Council has just given the parish council a separate notice board so members can display any information and agendas.