The Beacon Council Scheme is about raising standards in local government by identifying and recognising innovate and excellent performing authorities and helping them to share best practice with their peers. It allows opportunities for effective sharing and networking enabling good practice to be passed on in a user friendly way.
 
Bolton Council's Private Sector Renewal Service was awarded Beacon Status (2004-2005) as a recognition of their good practices, particularly in the area of involving customers through U-CAN Centres. See section on Urban Care and Neighbourhood Centres (UCAN) from the menu on the left hand side of the page.
 
A very successful Beacon year concluded in May 2005 with a Conference at the Reebok Centre. Those attending said that the event was very useful and lots of links and contacts were made for the future.