Council Leader award

A North Staffordshire council leader has been shortlisted in a national award scheme which celebrates the work of elected representatives.

Cllr Simon Tagg, leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, has been shortlisted in the leader of the year category of the Cllr Awards ahead of a glitzy award ceremony in London in November.

The Cllr Awards have been running for 14 years and are the only national award scheme celebrating the work of local councillors.

They’re organised by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU), a not-for-profit, non-partisan membership organisation.

The LGIU was established in 1983, and is an independent, local authority membership organisation which supports elected councillors and council employees across England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Australia.

The awards have five categories: leader of the year, community champion, young councillor of the year, resilience champion, lifetime legend.

The citation for Cllr Tagg’s nomination says his support for the community over Walleys Quarry has led to him being shortlisted.

It states: “Cllr Tagg’s effective and significant leadership of the council in addressing the issues caused by a landfill site near numerous homes was widely recognised, along with his dedication to engaging with and representing all the affected communities.”

49 councillors across England, Wales and Scotland have been shortlisted across the various award categories this year.

Cllr Tagg believes the award nomination recognises the work of the authority as a whole.

He said: “It is an honour to be shortlisted for the ‘Leader of the Year Award’, which I feel is for the whole council’s approach to Walleys Quarry.

“Elected members and officers at Newcastle Borough Council have made sure that the concerns of local residents are given a voice and ensured that the council is doing everything in its power to hold the landfill operator and Environment Agency to account.

“As we’ve seen recently with the shocking news about the mis-calibration of the Environment Agency monitoring equipment there is a constant need to continually provide that voice and support for residents.

“I and my colleagues will continue to do that for as long as is necessary.”

Organisers say competition was tight, with more than 300 nominations received across the five categories.

Jonathan Carr-West, chief executive of the LGIU, said: “In the face of unprecedented domestic and global challenges over the last year, councillors nationwide have once again exhibited unwavering dedication to serving their constituents.

“The shortlist for the 2023 Cllr Awards represents some of the most devoted elected representatives in England, Wales and Scotland.

“As councils continue to deliver essential services like social care and housing amid a cost of living crisis, these awards are a hugely important way to champion what councillors do locally.

“Their work, all too often, goes unrecognised and we take great pride in featuring their stories in this year’s shortlist.”

The winners in the England and Wales categories will be announced at the Guildhall in London at on 16th November 2023.

The award panel will be made up of senior councillors and stakeholders from across the sector.