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Local government leaders have pledged to ensure that no council is rated poor or weak by 2008.

The Local Government Association's manifesto, published this week, also challenges the government and political parties to back devolution to local councils.

LGA chair Sandy Bruce-Lockhart said central government's "obsession with national targets, ring-fenced budgets and unaccountable quangos" was stifling progress.

"We are calling for the government to get off the fence and end the UK's status as the most centralised country in the developed world."

The manifesto sets out a vision of self-governing communities led by councils free from Whitehall interference. 

- Manifesto from www.lga.gov.uk