BOLTON Council is joining a "tough targets" improvement campaign which could mean millions of pounds reward if life in the town improves.

It is part of the Local Public Service Agreement Initiative launched by the Government and the Local Government Association, which represents local councils.

If the council agrees to meet tough targets which will improve education, health, community safety and the environment, the Government will give them at least £5 million in return. The reward is 2.5 per cent of what it spends on services.

It will also get an initial £750,000 grant plus £1 for every person who lives in the town, making a total of £1,017,500.

The idea is that Bolton stretches its targets and performs better than it is expected to by 2010. It is also part of a pilot scheme for 10 local authorities to be judged on performance and will be given a report card by the Audit Commission -- the first is due in two years.

The potential goals that the council has set out to do include:

Boost the standard of literacy, numeracy and science and ITC scores of all 14 year olds;

Reduce school truancies by 10 per cent;

Reduce road accidents by 40 per cent and the number of children killed or seriously injured by 50 per cent by 2010;

Ensure all social housing meets good standards by 2010;

Improve residents' satisfaction by having a safe and clean environment;

Increase voter turnouts at elections;

Reduce the number of burglaries for a designated area and reduce reconviction rates for youth offenders;

Increase the percentage of disadvantaged people, including asylum seekers, using computer facilities at libraries;

Stabilise the private sector housing markets with most of the improvements taking place in areas of decline such as the Haulgh and improve these areas generally.

There has been some debate about who has the final say on the exact targets and their details, but all parties have agreed to the move.

Deputy Council leader Cllr Guy Harkin says it is a double boost for the town.

"Anything which gives us more money and improves performance is good news," he said.

"We will not get money for nothing, we will need to change working practices. It's about getting local authorities to think more imaginatively and take more risks, moving away from the traditional way of working."

How much the targets should be stretched will now be discussed with Government ministers.