Tag Archives: lib dem councils

Lib Dem Stockport awarded Local Authority of the Year at Municipal Journal Awards

By Simon McGrath | Wed 25th June 2025 - 10:25 am

At the Municipal Journal Awards last Friday, Stockport Council were given the award of “Local Authority of the Year “ with the judges singling out their “ ‘standout’ submission for its ‘clarity of purpose and impact’ and a ‘commitment to people-centred progress’..

The judges also said that “The “OneStockport” ethos shone through bold investment, strong service delivery and genuine co-production.”

In an article earlier this year Cllr Mark Hunter (until May 2025 Leader of Stockport Council) explained their approach.

I was particularly struck by the attention to building new homes:

Our ‘One Stockport’ approach unites public, private and voluntary sectors, ensuring everyone has a stake in our borough’s future. For example, our Mayoral Development Corporation has delivered more than 1,200 new homes and is on track to reach 8,000 by 2040, creating vibrant communities and opportunities for all.

And helping poor families:

Since April 2023, we have helped 49,000 residents’ access nearly £20m in benefits and written off £3m in debt. These are not just numbers, they are lives transformed.

Lib Dem Councils were shortlisted for numerous awards

and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council won the award for Senior Leadership Team of the Year. Council Leader Millie Earl said:

We should be talking about Lib Dem Councils Building new homes

By Simon McGrath | Wed 2nd November 2022 - 2:01 pm

One of the achievements of Lib Dem controlled Councils has been a focus on building social and affordable housing – but it’s not one the Party has made much of. Given that access to housing is one of the key issues in our society that seems a pity.

In York for example the Lib Dem run council is focused on increasing the number of affordable homes – 447 have been delivered in the last 3 years – and the numbers are increasing year or year. The Council is planning to have delivered no less than 600 affordable homes in it’s 4 years term and to have done so while protecting the local Green Belt.

Even better many of these are being delivered to ‘Passivhaus ‘ standards meaning that they are much better for the environment.

In Kingston we are doing something most Labour councils say is impossible – building new council housing – and new housing build to the highest environment standards. .As the Portfolio Holder for Housing , Clr Emily Davey says -“providing homes which meet our residents needs is a priority for us.”