WEST Somerset District Council has complained about the way a recent comprehensive performance assessment was carried out.

A 13-point letter sent to Audit Commission chairman James Strachan voices 'strong concerns' that some scores were predetermined, that corroborative evidence had been used selectively, and that there was an insistence on using outdated performance information, some of which was 17 months old.

Now a special meeting of West Somerset District Council has been called to allow councillors to debate the issue next week.

The letter has been sent in concert with Sedgemoor, South Somerset and Mendip district councils.

Every district council in England has been subjected to CPA, which is intended to help authorities improve local services for their communities by identifying strengths and weaknesses and to assist in preparing plans for councils to continue to move forward.

The CPA report for West Somerset is still in draft form and the Audit Commission will not make it public until Thursday, although councillors will have had several days in which to read a confidential copy of it.

Steven Pugsley, leader of West Somerset District Council, said: "We have strong reservations about the way the (CPA) framework has been applied to small, rural councils.

"We are calling a special meeting to allow us to get on with the process of improvement in West Somerset without any undue delay."

The meeting takes place on Thursday at 2.30pm. The public is welcome to attend.