Top Corby councillor in running for leader of the year award

A Corby councillor has been nominated for a national award in his role as leader of the council in the Oscars for councillors

Cllr Tom Beattie has been shortlisted for the Council Leader of the Year with six other council leaders across England in the LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) and CCLA (Churches, Charities and Local Authorities) organised awards.

This is the second time Cllr Beattie has been shortlisted for the awards, which is the only national ceremony to celebrate the contributions of councillors.

He said: "It's a real honour to be nominated and shortlisted again with this list of distinguished council leaders.

"I see it as recognition for all the hard work that we have done this last year. Every year is hard in local government but this year we have had the triple whammy of the reorganisation to unitary, the Covid pandemic and the new children's service.

"I am proud to be nominated. It's not just for the work I have done it's been a team effort. Let's hope it's second time lucky. "

Over 200 nominations were received across the nine categories that celebrate the varied work of councillors.

A spokesman for the awards said: "2020 marks the eleventh year of showcasing the achievements of councillors across England. So often, their hard work goes unrecognised.

"These awards are a uniquely important way to highlight what local councillors do for their communities, especially in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Competition was extremely tight again this year."

Cllr Beattie, 64, will retire next year and not stand for election to the new North Northamptonshire unitary authority. He will remain on the shadow executive committee from April 1 until May 10, 2021.

He said: "I have decided that I have done my bit. I've been a councillor since 2003 and have been leader of the council for ten years and I have had over 22 years as a trades union official."

The winners will be decided by a panel of judges composed of senior councillors and officers as well as leading stakeholders from across the sector.

Due to the ongoing health crisis, this year’s ceremony will take place virtually on Thursday, November 26.

Jonathan Carr-West, chief executive of LGIU, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has presented this country with a set of challenges that few could have predicted. However, councillors up and down the country have risen to these challenges and stepped up to plate for their communities. From delivering food parcels to vulnerable residents and sourcing PPE for frontline workers to finding temporary accommodation for the homeless, local government has kept the country safe and moving.

"It is for this reason that we are particularly proud to unveil the shortlist for this year’s Cllr Awards. Their achievements showcase the best of local government at a time when the country faces one of the greatest hardships of our lifetime."

The shortlist comprises: Cllr Tom Beattie – Corby Council; Cllr Julian German – Cornwall Council; Cllr Robert Gledhill – Thurrock Council; Cllr Christopher Hammond – Southampton City Council; Cllr Toby Savage – South Gloucestershire Council; Cllr Bridget Smith – South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cllr Danny Thorpe – Royal Borough of Greenwich.

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