Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill has been named council leader of the year in the first ever LGIU/CCA councillor awards.
Cllr Hill, credited for turning round his formerly beleaguered authority, said he was ‘honoured’ to win. ‘I must say the shortlist looked particularly daunting, so to be the final recipient was an extremely pleasant surprise,’ he added.Local Government Information Unit chief executive Andy Sawford said he had established the awards to celebrate the demanding and complex role councillors do.
‘Being a Councillor is one of the highest forms of community service. Not only do Councillors give their time and energy, often at the expense of work, family and social activity, but they also choose to be subject to a very high level of public accountability. This is the very essence of local democracy and is why councillors should have more powers over all local public services and should be freed up to shape the future of places.’
Other award winners include:
LGA group young councillor of the year: Cllr Carla Butler, Newhaven
CCLA award for outstanding contribution to financial performance: Cllr Martin Wilson, South Northamptonshire
New councillor of the year: Cllr Alex Folkes, Cornwall
Scrutineer of the Year: Cllr Deirdre Alden, Birmingham
Online councillor of the year: Cllr Ross Grant, Leicester
Community champion of the year: Cllr Yash Gupta, Thurrock
Sustainability councillor of the year: Cllr Alexis Rowell, Camden
