A London borough has been named the best performing council in the UK at the prestigious annual local government awards organised by The MJ.

Merton LBC won the Best Achieving Council category in the charity awards which took place at London’s Park Lane Hilton Hotel before almost 1,000 people.

Two other councils, Derby City and Staffordshire CC, were named as highly Commended in the category, which was sponsored by Green Park. Other finalists included Luton BC, South Oxfordshire and Vale of the White Horse DCs and Trafford MBC.

The awards were presented by BBC Radio 4 Today presenter Justin Webb. This year is the 10th anniversary of the awards while The MJ itself is 120 years old in 2013.

In the other 15 categories winners are:

Children’s Services: Derby City Council
Community Investor: South Staffordshire DC/Staffordshire CC/Wolverhampton MBC (joint entry)
Delivering Better Outcomes: Bedford BC and Gateshead City Council
Democratic Services: Cheshire West and Chester Council
Environmental Services: Hackney LBC
Innovation in Communication: Staffordshire CC
Innovative Finance: Barking & Dagenham LBC and Essex CC
Innovation on Social Care: Croydon LBC
Legal Services: Birmingham City Council
Public Private Partnership: Derby City Council
Shared Services: Babergh DC/Mid Suffolk DC
Trading Standards and Environmental Health: Birmingham City Council
Transformation through IT: City and County of Swansea
Workforce Transformation: Lancashire CC

The awards evening was introduced by The MJ’s editorial director Michael Burton and The MJ’s editor Heather Jameson.

Ms Jameson said: ‘Congratulation to all the winners and also to the finalists for making it through to the shortlist against stiff competition.’

Michael Burton added: ‘The judges were really impressed this year by the brilliant innovation and dedication shown by the winning and short-listed teams. The awards remind us that good ideas are in abundance in local government.’