Nottingham City Council has won Council of the Year at a national awards event.
Nottingham is the first council to win the prestigious award twice after being named Council of the Year previously in 2012.
The award, announced at the annual Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Awards last night, recognises leadership and innovation in a variety of service areas.
In addition to Council of the Year, Nottingham also won the award for Best Public/Private Partnership Working Initiative for the ‘Field of Dreams’ project which saw the replacement a derelict sports pavilion on Victoria Embankment through a £750,000 partnership involving Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire Cricket Club, Trent Bridge Community Trust, Notts Cricket Board and the England and Wales Cricket Board.
The City Council had been shortlisted for a total of seven awards by APSE which is dedicated to promoting excellence in the delivery of frontline services to local communities around the UK. The awards are a valuable way for councils to celebrate achievements and best practice, sharing success stories and experiences with other local authorities and organisations helps improve services for communities across the country.
City Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Graham Chapman, said: “Winning this award is a tribute to the people working for the council in a wide range of jobs who are dedicated to providing the best possible services to local people.
“We know there is always more we can do to make sure our services are as good as they can be. But it’s good to know Nottingham is seen an innovator in the public sector, leading the way in areas such as green energy, modern leisure centres, free and affordable city events and working together with partners to benefit local communities.
“The fact that this all being done against a backdrop of ever-reducing budgets due to Government funding cuts makes it even more of an achievement.”
APSE chief executive Paul O’Brien said: “I am delighted that Nottingham City Council has been recognised for its tremendous achievements and contribution to excellence in public services’.
“With over 300 submissions to our service awards, it is a testament to Nottingham’s frontline services that they are now recognised as outstanding within local government.”
In addition to the ASPE award for the Victoria Embankment pavilion, the Council’s Parks team recently won a Horticulture Week Custodian Award for the Best Urban Parks Team 2016.