Wiltshire Council announced as finalists for another three prestigious national awards

Wiltshire Council has been announced as finalists for three categories in the prestigious Municipal Journal (MJ) Awards 2024.

The council has been shortlisted for Best Transport Decarbonisation Project, Community Engagement, and Senior Leadership Team, in the awards which recognise the organisations, projects and people making the biggest impact in local government across the UK.

The council has been shortlisted in the Best Transport Decarbonisation Project category for its flagship Wiltshire Connect service, which offers a flexible and bookable bus service to rural communities. The service provides convenient access to services and social activities where a frequent traditional bus service wouldn't be financially viable and reduces reliance on personal vehicles in rural parts of the county.

The Prevention and Wellbeing team has been shortlisted in the Community Engagement category for its innovative approach to prevention. The team work with people with health needs to help keep them active and in their own homes, improving wellbeing and preventing the need for costly care solutions. The team works with anyone with no time limit, and the approach is driven by the individual accessing the service so that the support works for them.

The council's corporate leadership team has also been shortlisted for its high performance and strong leadership model. The team is underpinned by the rigour of their relationships with political leaders, the strength of their vision, and the work they do to ensure the entire council has an inclusive culture. The council recently received plaudits for the role the senior leadership played in the council achieving an Ofsted rating for Children's Services of 'Outstanding', where it had previously been rated as 'Good'.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: "Wiltshire Council leads the way in providing modern and evidence-led preventative services and being shortlisted for these awards, which acknowledge the tremendous effort of local authorities to support communities and overcome challenges, is recognition of the substantial progress we've made so far.

"There's never been a more challenging time in local government but these awards provide a platform to showcase the important work being undertaken across the services we deliver, and to inspire and be inspired by the innovative approaches taken by other local authorities.

"This announcement that we have been shortlisted for three categories in the MJ Awards follows the recent announcement that we have also been shortlisted in three categories for the LGC Awards and goes to show the innovative approaches being taken across the organisation. It demonstrates the breadth of talent and dedication across the council to deliver our Business Plan which sets out a clear long-term vision for Wiltshire and has enabled us to maintain a strong financial position and high quality of service, especially at a time when many local authorities are facing challenges to do this."

The MJ Awards are highly competitive and recognise councils across the UK striving to improve the lives of their communities in the face of unprecedented challenges. The award winners will be announced on 21 June 2024.