Chance for residents across West Midlands to acknowledge councillors with award
Residents across the region are being urged to recognise the hardest-working councillors in their area by nominating them for a national award.
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Nominations are being sought for the 2025 Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) and CCLA Cllr Awards, the only national ceremony that celebrates the contributions of councillors across England, Wales, and Scotland.
Nominations can be made by anyone, including members of the public, a fellow councillor, or a council officer, who wishes to acknowledge a councillor’s commitment to improving their community and achieving results over the past year.
The 2025 Cllr Awards has five categories: Community Champion, Leader of the Year, Young Councillor of the Year, Innovator of the Year and Lifetime Legend.
Nominations close on June 11, and the shortlisted candidates will be announced in the autumn.
Applicants must provide details about the nominated councillor, outlining why they deserve recognition and how their initiatives have positively impacted the community.
Some notable names from the region have been acknowledged with nominations in the past, with several going on to win one of the awards.
In 2015, Wolverhampton's children and families chief Val Gibson won Innovator of the Year, while Elias Mattu was shortlisted for Community Champion.
Meanwhile, Wolverhampton councillors Beverley Momenabadi and Chris Burden have been named Young Councillor of the Year, with Beverley winning in 2020 and Chris Burden in 2024.
In 2016, Pleck councillor Naheed Gultasib was shortlisted for Young Councillor of the Year, a category which has also seen Chris Burden shortlisted in 2022 and 2023 and Dudley councillor Adam Davies shortlisted in 2022.
Former Wolverhampton Council leader Roger Lawrence won Leader of the Year in 2018, with the late Ian Brookfield shortlisted for the same award in 2022.
Other councillors nominated in the past include former councillor Shaz Saleem, who was shortlisted for Community Champion in 2021, Smethwick councillor Parbinder Kaur for Resilience and Recovery in the same year, Blakenhall councillor Jas Dehar for Community Champion in 2020 and current Walsall Council leader Garry Perry for Lifetime Legend in 2023.
Winners will be revealed at the Cllr Awards ceremony taking place at the Guildhall in London hosted by the City of London Corporation, on Tuesday, November 5.
Jonathan Carr-West, LGIU chief executive, said: “LGIU is delighted to once again present the annual Cllr Awards, a celebration of the outstanding commitment and creativity shown by our locally elected officials.
"Councillors play a crucial role in the wellbeing of our communities, from improving public spaces to championing local initiatives, and their efforts touch our everyday lives in countless ways.
"Though much of their work happens quietly behind the scenes and without fanfare, their contributions are vital.
"That’s why the Cllr Awards are so important as they shine a spotlight on the dedication and impact of those who often go unrecognised and we’re excited and humbled to see the inspiring nominations that are already coming in.
"These awards would not be possible without the continued support of our founding partners, CCLA."
For more information and to submit a nomination, visit the official website.
