An all female line up has seen woman sweep the board as they receive top recognition at the annual council awards in Scotland.
Winners of the 2024 LGIU and CCLA Cllr Awards were announced at a ceremony at Edinburgh ‘s City Chambers on Thursday evening, showcasing the best of local government.
The top prize of the evening, Leader of the Year, went to Cllr Emma Macdonald, who heads Shetland Islands Council. The leader was celebrated as a “facilitator of change” and is champion of women entering politics.
Cllr Annette Christie o f Glasgow City Council was this year’s Innovator of the Year and Cllr Katie Pragnell from East Renfrewshire Council walked away with Young Councillor of the Year.
Another East Renfrewshire councillor, Cllr Betty Cunningham was crowned Lifetime Legend and the coveted Community Champion award went to Glasgow City Council’s Cllr Elaine McSporran.
The five categories reflect the varied contributions made by a wide range of councillors, and winners were chosen from more than 100 nominations. Winners were chosen by a judging panel comprised of senior councillors and leading stakeholders from across the sector.
Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) said: “Councillors across Scotland do incredible work day in and day out to support their communities, make local areas better places to live, and ensure the voices of residents are heard across council decision making.
“At LGIU, we are determined to celebrate these remarkable achievements, which genuinely improve residents’ lives and the well-being of our communities. I want to congratulate all of our very worthy Cllr Awards winners this evening. Their dedication and service represent the very best of local government.”
Kelly Watson, Head of Public Sector Relationships, CCLA said: “Local councillors are at the heart of communities and nights like this are an opportunity to showcase the contributions and real world impact made by those unsung heroes striving for a better world. The work undertaken by councillors positively impacts people’s lives in countless ways.
“As councils are facing unprecedented challenging times, these Awards remind us of how important and vital the work of local councillors and councils is.”
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