Angus, Renfrewshire, Fife, Dumfries & Galloway, West Dunbartonshire, South Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire councils, and Dundee Health & Social Care Partnership were all winners at the COSLA 2022 Excellence Awards.
COSLA’s Excellence Awards – the annual celebration of Scottish Local Government success – took place today (Thursday, February 24).
The event, which was held virtually, recognised areas of best practice and innovative service delivery over five categories – Service Innovation and Improvement; Achieving Better Outcomes in Partnership; Tackling Inequalities and Improving Health; Stronger Communities, Especially in Light of COVID, and Just Transition to a Net Zero Economy.
Scotland’s 32 Councils were invited at the end of last year to submit entries to a judging panel comprising a number of experts across local and national government as well as the private sector.
More than 170 applications were received, and the judges had the unenviable task of choosing just five category winners, as well as the winners of four special awards - COSLA Chairperson’s Award, SOLACE Best Team Award, The Scottish Government – Delivering Excellence Award, and the Excellent People, Excellent Outcomes Award.
Councillor Alison Evison, COSLA President and Chairperson of the Awards, said: “The COSLA Excellence Awards ceremony is always such an eagerly-anticipated date on the Scottish Local Government calendar, and allows us to gather and celebrate good service delivery from Councils across the country.
“This year’s event took place virtually – it was great to see everyone come together, albeit on our screens!
“It has been wonderful being part of the judging panel and hearing so many positive and inspiring stories from council teams working hard to deliver valued services in communities right across the country.
“The impact of COVID-19 cannot be underestimated but this year’s entries emphasised the critical role councils played during the pandemic and are now playing in Scotland’s recovery.
“But as well as being on the frontline of the country’s response, what really shone through from the entries was innovation at a local level - and the sheer determination from Scotland’s councils to simply make people’s lives better at a very challenging time for all.
“So huge congratulations to this year’s finalists and winners – it has been a pleasure to celebrate your hard work and efforts.”
This year’s winners are -
Category - Service Innovation and Improvement, sponsored by Food Standards Scotland
Winner - Angus Council (Environmental Services)
Four Day Working Week for Waste Services
Category - Achieving Better Outcomes in Partnership, sponsored by Openreach
Winner - Renfrewshire Council (Housing Support Services – Sheltered Housing and Health and Wellbeing Teams)
We’re Safe and Well
Category -Tackling Inequalities and Improving Health, sponsored by Public Health Scotland
Winner - Fife Council (Fife Justice Services)
TURN Men’s Group
Category - Stronger Communities, Especially in Light of COVID
Winner - Dumfries and Galloway Council (Community Planning and Engagement Services)
Community Resilience Strengthened Through COVID
Category - Just Transition to a Net Zero Economy
Winner - West Dunbartonshire Council Partnership (Regulatory & Regeneration)
Queens Quay Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) District Heating Network (DHN)
Scottish Government – Delivering Excellence Award
Winner - South Lanarkshire Council (Early Years)
Together We Can and We Will
COSLA Chairperson’s Award
Winner - North Lanarkshire Council (People and Organisational Development)
ROOTS: Opportunities for Growth
SOLACE Best Team Award
Winner - Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership (Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnership)
Dundee Non-Fatal Overdose Rapid Response Team
Excellent People, Excellent Outcomes Award, sponsored by the Improvement Service
Winner - South Lanarkshire Council (Housing and Technical Services)
Delivering Gypsy/Traveller Services During a Pandemic