Making A Difference Awards winners

Local Government Yorkshire and Humber (LGYH) held its fourth annual awards on 26 November 2009. The awards celebrate councils, police fire and national park authorities throughout Yorkshire and Humber who have gone that extra mile and ‘made a difference’ to the lives of local people.

The Making a Difference Awards are held every year and are presented to teams, individuals and authorities who have excelled over the previous year. The coveted overall award for the local authority that has demonstrated Leadership and Contribution to the Development of Local Government was won by Leeds City Council for their work with developing the new arrangements and the city region. Leeds City Council also won another three awards along with a special recognition award for Paul Rogerson, who recently announced his retirement from Leeds City Council as Chief Executive.

Awards were also given to two other Chief Executives in the region for their commitment to the development of local government in the region. Receiving these awards were John Marsden, Chief Executive for North Yorkshire County Council and Kim Ryley the former Chief Executive for Hull City Council – now working for Shropshire County Council.

Cllr Mark Burns-Williamson from West Yorkshire Police Authority and Wakefield Council was the winner of the Local Champion Award in recognition of the commitment he has shown to the policing agenda both regionally and nationally as well as his ongoing work with his local communities.

Other big winners on the night were North Lincolnshire Council, North East Lincolnshire Council, Rotherham MB Council and Sheffield City Council.

Cllr Roger Stone, Chair of Local Government Yorkshire and Humber and Leader of Rotherham MB Council said: “The Making a Difference Awards are important at times like these to recognise and reward the good work that is going on in our local authorities. Across the region our authorities are working hard to make our communities safer, stronger and healthier places to live. The award nominees and winners have demonstrated how they have made a difference to the people in their communities through delivering efficient and effective services. It is important that events such as these recognise the commitment and leadership that is being shown by local authorities throughout Yorkshire and Humber.”

Carole Hassan, Chief Executive of LGYH said: “Local Government Yorkshire and Humber looks to promote the good practise and successful cross party collaborative working that takes place across the region. I am pleased that we have a good mix of local authorities represented amongst the nominees and winners of this year’s awards. The region has taken this opportunity to recognise the leadership and commitment of three Chief Executives who have led improvement and collaboration across the region. Paul Rogerson from Leeds City Council, John Marsden from North Yorkshire County Council and Kim Ryley formerly of Hull City Council have all shown a huge level of commitment that it is pleasing to see recognised and rewarded.”

Rosie Winterton, Minister for Yorkshire and The Humber, who presented the Government Office sponsored ‘Working together to improve’ award said: “Partnership working is absolutely vital to deliver the high quality, efficient public services our communities deserve. I congratulate Efficiency North on its success which is richly deserved. The Local Authorities involved in Efficiency North, like all of the nominees for this award, have demonstrated passion, commitment and most of all imagination in working with their partners to address public service issues in their areas."

The award winners were:

Overall award for the local authority that has demonstrated Leadership and Contribution to the Development of Local Government in Yorkshire and Humber

• Winner: Leeds City Council – for their commitment to developing new arrangements and with the City Region

Local Champion

• Winner: Cllr Mark Burns-Williamson - West Yorkshire Police Authority and Wakefield Council
• Highly Commended: Cllr Keith Watkin - North East Lincolnshire Council

Outstanding Contribution

• Winner: Visually Impaired Team - Education Leeds
• Highly Commended: Jenny King - North East Lincolnshire Council

Making the Connections

• Winner: Consultation Café - Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
• Highly Commended: Bluetooth Assisted Fire Safety Campaign - West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue
• Highly Commended: Be Smart Use a Condom - Education Leeds

People Management

• Winner: Fit for the Future - North Lincolnshire Council

Improving Lives

• Winner: Activity Sheffield - Sheffield City Council
• Highly Commended: Independent Living - Leeds City Council

Stepping up to the Challenge

• Winner: What about the Customer? - North East Lincolnshire Council
• Highly Commended: Impact and Consequences - Wakefield Council
• Highly Commended: Children and Young Peoples’ Participation Unit - Leeds City Council

Looking Beyond Our Shores

• Winner: Imagination Library - Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
• Highly Commended: Breeze International Youth Festival - Leeds City Council

 Building Cultural Places

• Winner: Leeds City Museum building community partnerships -Leeds City Council
• Highly Commended: Youth Arts -North East Lincolnshire Council

Working Together To Improve

• Winner: Efficiency North
• Highly Commended: Humberside Young Witness Service -Hull City Council
• Highly Commended: One Commitment -Doncaster Council

Transforming Through Efficiency

• Winner: Raising the Bar Through Shared Services - North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council
• Highly Commended: Local Education Partnership -Education Leeds
• Highly Commended: Shared Services -Hambleton District Council and Richmondshire District Council

Special Individual Awards

For Leadership and Contribution to the Development of Local Government in Yorkshire and Humber

Paul Rogerson, Chief Executive, Leeds City Council
John Marsden, Chief Executive, North Yorkshire County Council
Kim Ryley, Former Chief Executive, Hull City Council
 

For more information about the Awards, contact LGYH.