Liverpool City Council has been shortlisted in three categories at the local government ‘Oscars’ for its bike hire scheme, the Giants event and the work of its legal services team.
The 2015 MJ (Municipal Journal) Achievement Awards showcase innovation and excellence in council services.
Liverpool is in the running for prizes related to the hugely successful City Bike scheme, the return of the Giants and the role of its legal services team in providing commercial advice on regeneration schemes.
The categories and nominations are:
Excellence in Community Engagement – The Culture Liverpool team for their work involving local people in the five day Memories of August 1914 ‘Giants’ event. It attracted one million people and generated £46 million of economic benefits. The engagement work included recruiting local people to perform in a PALs parade and getting older people’s groups to knit a giant blanket for the Grandmother.
Effective Transport and Infrastructure Delivery – The Regeneration team for the CityBike scheme, which is seeing 100 cycle stations installed in the largest scheme of its type outside London. The judges were impressed by the council’s approach to integrated sustainable transport, and its engagement with local people and stakeholders during its development and implementation.
Legal Services – The Legal Services team for their work supporting the ‘Invest to Earn’ philosophy which has seen the council becoming more commercial in its approach to regeneration projects, investing in schemes which deliver a return that can be used to subsidise council services.
Liverpool City Council Chief Executive, Ged Fitzgerald, said:
“This is fantastic recognition for our staff and I am delighted for the three shortlisted teams.
“We are continuing to find ways of innovating and moving the city forward despite the financial challenges that we face.
“Competition for these awards is extremely tough and to be shortlisted in three categories is a major achievement in itself.”
Michael Burton, Editorial Director of the MJ Achievement Awards, said:
“As always the dedication of local authority teams to their services and their communities has been inspiring.
“Despite the background of spending cuts, the entries show how staff and managers constantly innovate.”
The winners will be announced on 18 June and more information is available at http://awards.themj.co.uk/