The winner of the Municipal Journal Award for Democratic Services Team of the Year was announced at an awards evening on 20 June.
This year’s winning authority is Cheshire West and Chester.
Mandy Ramsden, Senior Manager – Democratic Services said ‘Cheshire West and Chester Council is extremely proud to be the 2013 winners of the MJ award for Excellence in Democratic Services. We found the process to be very worthwhile and rewarding. It made us focus on the varied services we provide and had a very positive impact on staff morale and team working. It also helped raise the profile of the team within the Council. To get to the short listing stage and present what we have achieved was a great experience in itself but to go on and win the award is fantastic. We would like to thank ADSO and Weightmans for sponsoring the award and would recommend any authority to participate in the future.”
Highly commended was Cherwell and South Northamptonshire Councils. James Doble, Democratic, Scrutiny and Elections Manager said: ‘Over the last two years the democratic and elections team at Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils have been through major change and reorganisation whilst continuing to deliver high quality services. With such major changes taking place, its only when we took time to reflect, that it was possible for us to fully realise our achievements and the journey we have been on. The MJ award for democratic services sponsored by ADSO and Weightmans provided us with this opportunity. Not only do we intend to enter again but would recommend it to other authorities as a very positive activity for both staff and the authority.’
Congratulations to both organisations from all at ADSO.