Surrey County Council has been named council of the year in the 2013 iESE Improvement and Efficiency Awards.

The awards aim to celebrate innovation and transformation in the public sector. The council of the year award is given to the council deemed ‘outstanding’ in terms of improving its performance and/or efficiency over the past year.

Chairman of iESE and leader of Bracknell Forest Council, Paul Bettison, said: ‘For all of us in local government, together with our private and third sector partners, living with and excelling in spite of severe financial pressures has become a way of life.

‘There is no doubt that councils will continue doing what they do best under financial pressure - breaking down the barriers to further transform, keep those much relied upon services running and getting value for money.’

The 2013 winners are:

Connecting people - Aspire Sussex and Birmingham City Council

Transformation in waste and environment - The Metropolitan Police, Property Services Department – Environment and Sustainability Team

Fire and rescue project of the year - Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service, Community Safety Department

The entrepreneur awards - ICT Refurbishment Ltd

Transformation in social care - The WLA Special Educational Needs Programme

Police project of the year - The Metropolitan Police, Property Services Department – Environment and Sustainability Team

Delivering through efficiency - Norwich City Council

Transforming local services - Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, Phoenix Project

Working together - Wigan, St Helens and Warrington Councils, WWISH Shared Adoption Service

Council of the year 2013 - Surrey County Council