Councillors voted to accept proposals for a new list of priorities for spending in 2008/09, in response to new surveys of residents' views and increasingly tight budget demands.

But the council states that funding for the Masterplan will remain at the same level, and removal from the priority list is a sign of successful progress.

An officer's report put before councillors said: "Services that no longer appear in the top improvement priority ranking would continue on the same basis as now. Such activities e.g. Matlock Masterplan, would remain at their current levels of resourcing.

"All that would happen is that they would no longer be in the running for additional resourcing as they would no longer be in the top-most priority block.

"Being removed from the improvement priority list is an indication of successful achievement; remaining in the priority list is an indication that improvements are still needed."

The four priorities adopted were: affordable housing, clean streets, community safety and encouraging healthy lifestyles.