Council shortlisted for major awards

The Council is one of just six across the country to be shortlisted for the Local Government Chronicle's (LGC) prestigious Council of the Year award.

This is an annual national award scheme run by the publication - one of the leading weekly local government magazines. The final stage of the contest will involve a judging panel visiting Southend in January to see the Council and its activities first hand.

Meanwhile the Essex Legal Services Partnership, which comprises the legal departments of 15 authorities in Essex including Southend Borough Council's, has been shortlisted for the LGC's Legal Award.

The winners will be announced at the LGC Awards Ceremony in London on Wednesday 23rd March, 2011.

In addition the Council's ICT service has been chosen as one of seven finalists in the sustainable 'Green IT' carbon-efficient services section of the e-Government National Awards 2010.

The ICT department has put in place some innovative power reduction projects that have led to a substantial reduction in the Council's carbon footprint and also delivered efficiency and major financial savings.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Leader, Councillor Nigel Holdcroft, said: "These are terrific achievements for the Council.

"It is excellent to see that our continuing and widespread improvements across a range of areas are being officially recognised nationally.

"This success is the result of the team efforts of a large number of people.

"Congratulations to all our staff, our partners and also our residents for helping us make such a positive impact at this top level.

"We will be doing our utmost to show the judges how much we deserve to win the awards we have been shortlisted for.

"For the Council of the Year award, for instance, we are asked to demonstrate 'a level of excellence and innovation that takes our work well beyond basic service provision'.

"We look forward to welcoming the judges and showing them how well we can do this."