Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared last month. We’ve just heard from Cllr Ben Rigby, the Group Chair of the Lib Dem Group on Brentwood Council, a Lib Dem led council in coalition, that they too have been listed for an award so we have added them in and are re-running the article.

The Local Authority publication the Municipal Journal has shortlisted a number of Lib Dem-led Councils for their ‘Local Authority of the Year Award’.

The Award recognises “councils who, through a collective effort, drive innovation and are delivering the best outcomes for their communities”. What is really striking is that, of the seven finalists, all but one are either Lib Dem-run or with Lib Dems involved in running the councils.

One finalist is the Lib Dem-run Council of Watford. Peter Taylor, the elected Mayor of Watford said :

Delighted that Watford Council has been nominated for another Council of the Year award! I am so grateful to our staff, members, residents, businesses and partners who work with us to make Watford a great place to live and do business.

Three of the finalists are in No Overall Control (NOC) but Lib Dem-led – Wokingham, Stockport and Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole. Two of the others – Burnley and Lancaster are NOC with Lib Dem Cabinet members.

The Leader of Wokingham Council, Councillor Stephen Conway said:

Following on from being rated one of the most efficient councils in the country in the Impower and Municipal Journal ‘Impower Index’ last year, this is another testament to our council.
I am delighted for our hard-working staff to be recognised in this way – of course, all that really matters is how we work for residents, but it is great that this independent and respected journal has shortlisted us in this way.

There are a number of other awards for which Lib Dems Councils or those in NOC, where we lead, are shortlisted :

Best Council Services Team – South Hams
Community Engagement – London Borough of Sutton
Digital Transformation – Westmorland and Furness
Innovation in Children’s and Adult Services – Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole
Innovation in Public Private Partnerships – Bath and North East Somerset
Leadership in Responding to the Climate Emergency – Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole
Workforce optimisation Brentwood, with Rochford

It’s a great tribute to our Lib Dem-led councils that so many are shortlisted – we will know who has won at the Awards Ceremony on June 20th.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social