Harlow Council has been shortlisted in the coveted Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards in the “Most Improved Council” category.
The council is up against three other councils in the final four - Bath & North East Somerset Council, Lichfield DC and Walsall MBC - and will find out whether it will win the prestigious award when the awards are presented in June.
The council has been shortlisted following the rapid progress it has made in turning around how it operates and delivers for residents since an independent Local Government Association peer challenge held in March 2023.
The independent peer review team returned at the end of November 2023 and a feedback report was published a month later. The report recognised that the council has moved a long way in short space of time, with statements such as:
“Nine months on from the corporate peer challenge, it is clear that there has been profound change achieved in many aspects of how the council operates and what it is delivering.”
“The five priorities for this year are clearly driving the organisation.”
“What is being delivered is making a tangible difference for residents.”
Councillor Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council, said:
“It’s brilliant to see Harlow Council’s name shortlisted for a national award and being recognised as one of the most improved councils in the country. It is an achievement that everyone involved in the council can be very proud of and we look forward to June when we will find out whether we have won the award, but even to be recognised as one of the four most improved councils of the year is a fantastic recognition. The progress that the peer review team witnessed when it returned late last year was remarkable and it was all down to the teamwork and the incredible efforts of council staff and councillors.
“We know that we have a long way to go to continuing improving the council, but over the past 10 months, we have worked tirelessly to deliver on our five priorities and transform the council and what it delivers for residents, and I am delighted that this has been recognised in this way.”