SUNDERLAND CITY COUNCIL has been selected as a shortlisted finalist in the two categories in the 2018 LGC Awards.
The categories are ‘Driving Growth’ in terms of business and investment and Public Health.
The annual awards, run by the Local Government Chronicle, are the biggest and most prestigious awards ceremony for the local government sector.The winners will be announced in a ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House venue on 21 March 2018.
Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Harry Trueman said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this award by the Local Government Chronicle, that in itself is national recognition of attracting continuing international investment into our city which has successfully secured 8,600 jobs over the past five years.
“Through a proactive and ‘can do’ approach, Sunderland City Council has built an enviable reputation for driving growth and creating opportunities for its businesses and communities.”
Sunderland Director of Public Health, Gillian Gibson added: “We should all welcome this acknowledgement of our work with community health partners to develop a targeted, integrated ‘wellness service’ to help people and their families meet their specific heath needs.”
Nearly 100 organisations have been shortlisted as finalists in the coveted awards, which recognise the best of local government innovation and service delivery.
The high quality of this year’s entries demonstrates local government’s enthusiasm to innovate in an era in which councils’ budgets have been cut. The awards seek to identify and recognise local government’s greatest innovators, whose achievements are often under reported.
With budgets at the forefront of priorities, it is even more important this year to shine a spotlight on the achievements of those councils whose pioneering best practice can inspire other councils to improve services.
LGC editor Nick Golding said: “To be shortlisted for an LGC Award shows a council service is among the country’s most innovative, and doing the most to support the needs of local residents as councils face continuing budget cuts. We should salute the council officers and councillors doing the most to ensure our vital public services thrive in the era of austerity.”
Winners will be announced on 21 March 2018 at Grosvenor House on London’s Park Lane which will be attended by 1,100 people from local government and its partner organisations.
The full list of finalists can be found at awards.lgcplus.com