John Coughlan, Hampshire County Council's Director of Children's Services has been awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours List.

The honour is in recognition of his work for children's services, helping to improve outcomes for children both locally and nationally. And in particular the award recognises his work alongside John Freeman, Director of Children's Services in Dudley, in setting up the Association of Directors of Children's Services which officially came into being in 2007.

Coughlan, who is married with two children, joined the County Council in 2005 as its Director of Children's Services to oversee the integration of Education and Children's Social Care services into the current Children's Services department. Under his leadership the department contributed to a successful Joint Area Review of children's services across Hampshire and more recently it was judged to be consistently good across all areas of children's services by Ofsted inspectors.

He has also been seconded to Haringey LBC to oversee the implementation of procedures for safeguarding children following the Baby P case. 

Commenting on the CBE  he said: 'This is a an honour and a tribute to children's services as a whole. I especially want to thank my family, my colleagues and the elected members in Hampshire. Without all their backing this would not have been possible.'

Joanne Roney, Chief Executive of Wakefield Council, has received an OBE for services to local government.

Ms Roney started work in local government as an administrative apprentice for Birmingham Council at the age of 16, working her way up to her present position after being director of Neighbourhoods and Community Care at Sheffield City Council.

Gillian Beasley, chief executive of Peterborough City Council for the past six years, has been awarded an OBE for her services to local government