Shortlist unveiled for Scotland’s top councillor awards

THREE Edinburgh councillors are among over 100 nominations received for 3rd annual LGIU Scotland & CCLA Cllr Awards

Local Government Iinformation Unit (LGIU) Scotland and CCLA are proud to unveil the shortlist for the 2020 Cllr Awards, showcasing the achievements of councillors across Scotland for the third year running. 

The Cllr Awards are the only national ceremony to celebrate the vital contributions of our councillors. 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 with a record number of nominations (over 100) received across the eight categories that celebrate the varied work of councillors.

Some of the awards up for grabs include Covid-19 Hero and Collaborative Working (new for 2020) alongside the coveted Leader of the Year and New Councillor of the Year awards. The full shortlist is included below.

Three Edinburgh councillors have been short-listed this year. The city’s transport convener, Liberton/Gilmerton SNP Cllr Lesley Macinnes, is in the running for Covid-19 Hero Award (above, right), while Leith Walk Green Councillor Susan Rae has been nominated in the Urban Community Champion category.

And last but not least veteran Craigleith Conservative councillor Iain Whyte is nominated in the Lifetime Contribution Category.

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 Tuesday 24th November with special speakers and guests. 

This year’s awards are made possible thanks to the generous support of founding partners CCLA.

Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU Scotland 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.

“We would like to congratulate all of those councillors shortlisted and look forward to revealing the winners on the 24th of November.” 

2020 Cllr Awards Shortlist

Champion for Education

Champion for Education: for councillors who have performed outstanding work in the field of education

Cllr David MacDonald – East Renfrewshire Council

Cllr Dr Soryia Siddique – Glasgow City Council

Cllr Fay Sinclair – Fife Council

Collaborative Working

Collaborative Working: to celebrate a group of councillors who have worked effectively together to undertake a new project, implement a new process or better-scrutinise council proceedings

Cllr Laura Brennan-Whitefield – South Ayrshire Council (joint)

Cllr Siobhian Brown – South Ayrshire Council (joint)

Covid-19 Hero

Covid-19 Hero: to celebrate a councillor who has championed their local community during the pandemic

Bailie Philip Braat – Glasgow City Council

Cllr Elspeth Kerr – Glasgow City Council

Cllr Rosemary Liewald – Fife Council

Cllr Lesley Macinnes – The City of Edinburgh Council

Cllr Eva Murray – Glasgow City Council

Cllr Laura Murtagh – Falkirk Council

Leader of the Year

Leader of the Year: to celebrate the work of an exceptional Council Leader

Cllr Jenny Laing – Aberdeen City Council

Cllr Murray Lyle – Perth and Kinross Council

Cllr Douglas Reid – East Ayrshire Council

Lifetime Contribution

Lifetime Contribution: for councillors who have gone above and beyond for their communities over an extended period of time

Cllr Paul Carey – Glasgow City Council

Cllr Eileen Logan – South Lanarkshire Council

Cllr Willie Sawers – Dundee City Council

Cllr Iain Whyte – The City of Edinburgh Council

New Councillor of the Year

New Councillor of the Year: for recently elected councillors who are already making a noticeable impact in their communities in a short time

Cllr Julie Bell – Angus Council

Cllr Siobhian Brown – South Ayrshire Council

Cllr Kenneth Duffy – North Lanarkshire Council

Cllr Mark Horsham – South Lanarkshire Council

Cllr Kim Long – Glasgow City Council

Cllr Eva Murray – Glasgow City Council

Rural Community Champion

Rural Community Champion: for councillors in predominantly rural constituencies who have gone above and beyond in supporting their communities

Cllr Stephen Burns – Renfrewshire Council

Cllr Ian Ferguson – Fife Council

Cllr Glen Reid – Aberdeenshire Council

Cllr David Watson – South Lanarkshire Council

Urban Community Champion

Urban Community Champion: for councillors in predominantly urban constituencies who have gone above and beyond in supporting their communities

Cllr Bill Cormie – Aberdeen City Council

Cllr Kim Long – Glasgow City Council

Cllr Susan Rae – The City of Edinburgh Council

Cllr Lynne Short – Dundee City Council

Past winners of the Awards can be found here.

Rules for the nomination, shortlisting and selection process can be found here.

Follow #CllrAwards for all updates.

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davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer