29 February 2008
26 awards have been given to councils and the wider local government family this evening in the third awards gala for Welsh local government.
Speaking during the Excellence Wales awards evening in Cardiff Bay, Brian Gibbons, Minister for Social Justice and Local Government said:
"I am pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate the excellent practice exhibited by local authorities and the wider local government family in Wales. Award schemes such as Excellence Wales play a crucial role in showcasing excellent practice in local government. It is important that we share this good practice and encourage all local authorities to follow suit. I am glad to see the Welsh Assembly Government's investment in this awards scheme is paying dividends.”
Steve Thomas, WLGA Chief Executive added:
“In its third Year Excellence Wales is demonstrating the efforts of staff and councillors all across Wales to achieve the highest level of performance in serving their communities. The Scheme is going from strength to strength with nearly double the number of awards this year.”
“Many people have contributed to the Scheme’s success but fundamentally it is Welsh local government and its wider family who have wholeheartedly embraced the concept and principles of Excellence Wales. The commitment all across Wales to sharing innovation and good practice for the broader benefit of Welsh public services is inspiring. We must continue to build on and promote our successes; together we can make a difference to our communities.”
Felix Gummer, Regional Corporate Affairs Manager for Wales, Tesco (Excellence Wales Headline Sponsor) said:
“We are proud to be associated with the Excellence Wales Awards and we would like to extend our warmest congratulations to all those who have received commendations for all their hard work.”
Over 250 guests gathered in Cardiff Bay for the celebration event hosted by TV’s Lucy and Rhodri Owen.
Over 60 applications were received from councils as well as police authorities, national park authorities and fire and rescue services to which the scheme became open for the first time this year. The successful applications were:
Our Children and Young People- protecting and fulfilling lives and futures
- Carmarthenshire County Council (Highly Commended)
- Wrexham County Borough Council (Highly Commended)
- Gwynedd Council (Commended)
- Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council (Commended)
- Bridgend County Borough Council (Commended)
- Isle of Anglesey County Council (Commended)
- Conwy County Borough Council (Commended)
Our Economy – Strong, Prosperous and Vibrant Communities
- Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (Commended)
- Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (Commended)
- Cardiff Council (Commended)
- Newport City Council (Commended)
- Wrexham County Borough Council (Commened)
Our Environment- Clean and Green, Managed and Enjoyed
- Newport City Council (Highly Commended)
- Carmarthenshire County Council (Commended)
- Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (Commended)
- Caerphilly County Borough Council (Commended)
- City and County of Swansea (Commended)
- Pembrokeshire National Park Authority (Commended)
- Snowdonia National Park Authority (Commended)
Our Council – Collaboration in the Public Services
- Cardiff Council (Commended for local collaboration)
- Conwy County Borough Council (Commended for local collaboration)
- Gwent Police Authority (Commended for local collaboration)
- Vale of Glamorgan Council (Commended for local collaboration)
- Powys County Council and Ceredigion County Council (Commended for sub-regional collaboration)
- Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council (Commended for sub-regional collaboration)
- Denbighshire County Council and Conwy County Borough Council (Commended for sub-regional collaboration)
As well as the established Highly Commended and Commended categories ‘Certificates of Recognition’ were awarded to a number of authorities to commend smaller pockets of good practice that are making a difference to people‘s lives across Wales.
The successful applications were:
Our Children and Young People- protecting and fulfilling lives and futures
- Ceredigion County Council
- Monmouthshire County Council
- City and County of Swansea
Our Economy – Strong, Prosperous and Vibrant Communities
- Gwynedd Council
Our Environment- Clean and Green, Managed and Enjoyed
- Brecon Beacons National Park Authority
- Denbighshire County Council
- Powys County Council
Our Council – Collaboration in the Public Services
- Carmarthenshire County Council
- Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service
- Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
- South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
- South Wales Police Authority
Councils and the wider local government family provide hundreds of everyday services that we all see and use in our daily lives. Excellence Wales is about recognising good practice across the range of these services and celebrating them. The Scheme aims partly to reward, partly to inspire, but fundamentally to share learning and improve public services. A series of ‘Learning Exchange’ events will be held throughout the year to share good practice from across Wales.
Notes to Editors
• Excellence Wales is run by the Welsh Local Government Association, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and supported by a range of sponsors
• Sponsors include:
- Tesco as headline sponsor of the awards evening and learning exchanges throughout the year;
- The Federation of Small Businesses- sponsors of the ‘Our Economy’ Excellence Wales award and Our Economy learning exchanges throughout the year;
- BT- supporters of the Excellence Wales awards scheme throughout the year; and
- The FBA Group- supporters of the Excellence Wales awards scheme throughout the year.
Entries were judged by an external assessment panel.
Good practice case studies which capture key challenges and secrets of success are available at www.wlga.gov.uk. For further information contact: Natasha Weeks, Press and PR Officer - 029 2046 8673 Natasha.Weeks@wlga.gov.uk or see the list attached for media contacts across local authorities and the wider local government family.
For more information contact: Natasha Weeks