Manchester City Council was rated the best UK local authority and came fourth overall in the Government's CRC energy efficiency scheme annual league table for 2011/12, published this week.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change's initiative involves 2097 bodies in a mandatory scheme aimed at cutting emissions in large public and private sector organisations. The DCLG also entered the top 10 of the rankings at number 8, with Kirklees and Salford City councils coming in at 10 and 11.