GREENWICH WINS LOCAL AUTHORITY AWARD

The royal borough of Greenwich has won the "Council-Of-The-Year" Award, confirming it the best local authority in the country.

The Award, an annual event given by the public sector magazine, The `Local Government Chronicle', was given on the basis of "excellent planning and brave decision-making" and for combining a long-term sustainable strategy with successful delivery across a wide range of areas.

The event, held on Wednesday 13th March, 2013, Grosvenor House Hotel, London saw the judges impressed with the council's focus on growth and investment, and its work with those hit by the benefit cap. This is hardly surprising.

According to the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) "Greenwich beat Derby City Council, Essex CC, Newham LBC, Surrey CC and Wakefield Council to win the top accolade".

In recent times, The Royal Borough of Greenwich has been the borough to watch, having achieved many loudable feets in recent years. The year 2012 saw the borough given a "Royal Borough" status, making it the first so to do in as much as 80 years.

2012 was also the `year of regeneration' as the borough struggled to rise above the ugly August 2011 riots which saw a good number of shops looted and burnt down. Reconstruction was going on even as the borough prepared to co-host the Olympics and Paralympic games.

The gong was presented to the Borough leader Cllr Chris Roberts by comedian Alexander Armstrong. Cllr Chris Roberts expressed delight at the recognition of the efforts of the borough in 2012 through the challenges that the year presented.