Newry Mourne and Down District Council wins Local Government Award.
The social enterprise sector in received a welcome boost recently when Newry Mourne and Down District Council was a winner at this year’s Local Government Awards on Thursday evening (20 February).
The council picked up the award for the Best Enterprise Initiative by a Council for its Social Enterprise Programme SENMD Initiative. The event was hosted by journalist Sarah Travers at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast.
The Awards are co-ordinated by NILGA and the Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE). This year they attracted 58 entries and showcased brilliance in service provision, new initiatives and the personal commitment from councils, councillors, staff and partners. The categories are designed to foster innovation, exceptional commitment and great work, providing opportunities for local government’s staff and members to step forward and learn from great example.
Speaking at the event, Councillor Frances Burton, Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) President said,
“Councils across Northern Ireland continue to undertake valuable work and dedicate time and resources in order to modernise and improve their areas for local communities, businesses and visitors – as well as wider government and civic society.
“The Local Government Awards are testimony to these services for local people as well as offering benchmarks for wider government and civic society. They provide fantastic learning tools for councils, in an environment where every penny counts.
“We can do things better by learning from the best. This is something NILGA is passionate about, and it is reflected in each of our ambitious and resourceful councils”.
APSE Chief Executive, Paul O’Brien also said:
“Local councils are the glue that hold communities together. Whether delivering on wonderful parks or collecting bins to attracting businesses and engaging in arts, culture and leisure activities it is the efforts of these frontline service teams that make a real difference at a local level. All the finalist councils are deserving of the highest recognition”.
The Awards cover eight categories and sponsor partners / support bodies contributing are: Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE); William Johnston Memorial Trust (WJMT); Enterprise Northern Ireland; Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (SOLACE); Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA); National Association of Councillors (NAC); Sustainable NI and Tourism NI.
Nominees were judged by an independent panel.
Winners of the 2020 Local Government Awards Northern Ireland
- BEST LOCAL AUTHORITY SERVICE TEAM.
Sponsored by the Association for Public Service Excellence [APSE]
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council
- BEST LOCAL AUTHORITY COMMUNITY PLANNING INITIATIVE
Sponsored by the Northern Ireland Branch of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers [SOLACE NI]
Derry City and Strabane District Council
- EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by the William Johnston Memorial Trust [WJMT]
Sean Fegan, Ards and North Down Borough Council.
- BEST ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE BY A COUNCIL
Sponsored by Enterprise Northern Ireland
Newry Mourne and Down District Council
- BEST LOCAL AUTHORITY ELECTED MEMBER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
Sponsored by the Northern Ireland Local Government Association [NILGA]
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.
- BEST INITIATIVE BY A COUNCILLOR / COUNCILLOR GROUP.
Sponsored by the National Association of Councillors [NAC]
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.
- BEST LOCAL AUTHORITY TOURISM INITIATIVE
Sponsored by Tourism Northern Ireland
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
- EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BY A LOCAL AUTHORITY
Sponsored by Sustainable NI and the Northern Ireland Local Government Association [NILGA]
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
