Chambers Ireland has announced details of the shortlist for the 2012 Excellence in Local Government Awards, which will be held in association with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government on November 8 2012.
17 awards in total will be presented across a variety of categories including: Supporting Active Communities; Festival of the Year; Sports Development and Local Authority Economic Efficiencies. Awards will also be presented to the City/County Council of the Year and the Town/Borough Council of the Year.
Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland, Ian Talbot noted the significant changes local authorities have undergone in recent times and said the awards provide a “unique platform to recognise their continued excellent work at a time of great upheaval and structural change”.
The Minister for Local Government, Phil Hogan TD acknowledged the work carried out by local authorities and noted the strength of applications this year which “highlights the rich and diverse initiatives taking place in communities across the country.”
The 2012 Excellence in Local Government Awards Shortlist is as follows:
Sustaining the Arts
• Cavan County Council – Extern Traveller Project – Expressive Art Programme
• Dublin City Council – Albert Cottages / Artists’ Studios
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – ‘Partnership with Youth – Development of The Grainstore’
• Enniscorthy Town Council – The Presentation Centre
• Roscommon County Council – Roscommon County Youth Orchestra
Supporting Active Communities
• Dublin City Council – McKee Court Senior Citizens Housing and Community Facility
• Dundalk Town Council – The Open 24 Hours Art Gallery
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – ‘Growing and Building Communities – Shanganagh Community Garden’
• Navan Town Council – Navan Town Pride of Place
• Westmeath County Council – Cathaoirleach Awards – Communities in Action Scheme
Festival of the Year
• Donegal County Council – One Donegal Cultural Diversity Month
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – ‘Opening the Door – Summer of Heritage Festival’
• Waterford City Council – The Tall Ships Races 2011
• Wexford Borough Council – Art in the Open
Best Library Service
• Dublin City Council – Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?
• Galway County Council – From Libraries to Community and Cultural Hubs: the local library as a community, creative and learning space
• South Dublin County Council – Ready2Read – Early Literacy Programme
• Wexford County Council – Gorey Community Library – Our Place, Great Space!
Parks & Recreation
• Cavan Town Council – Fair Green Hill Amenity Area
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – ‘Tea, Music and Friendship in Cabinteely Park – enhanced facilities for all ages’
• Limerick City Council – The Baggot Estate Amenity Enhancement Works
• Waterford City Council – Waterford Nature Park
• Westmeath County Council – Belvedere House Gardens and Park
Supporting Tourism
• Cavan County Council – Geopark Ambassadors Project
• Carlow Town Council – Carlow County Museum
• Donegal County Council – Donegal Gathering
• Enniscorthy Town Council – Enniscorthy Castle – A View from the Keep
Partnership with Business
• Cavan Town Council – Cavan Town Business Floral Enhancement Initiative
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Rewarding Excellence and Innovation in Environmental Management
• Kilkenny County Council – Supporting the Economic Development of the Agri-food Industry in Kilkenny
• Leitrim County Council – ‘Leitrim – One Call to Success’
• Navan Town Council – Navan Town Renaissance Project
Joint Local Authority Initiative
• Dublin City Council – Innovation and Data Sharing Network – Dublinked
• Galway City Council – Meet West
• Galway City Council – Western Local Authority Procurement Network (WLAPN)
• Local Government Management Services Board – Local Authority Safety Management System
• Wicklow Town Council – Victorian Christmas in Wicklow
Innovation in Technology
• Dublin City Council – Scanning and Geo-location of Dublin City Council’s Property Register
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Higher Education Grants – Portal to a Brighter Future
• Fingal County Council – Fingal Open Data
• Fingal County Council – #Apps4Fingal
• Wexford Local Authorities – MapAlerter – A free text and email alert system for the public
Smarter Travel
• Dublin City Council – Real Time Passenger Information System
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Mobility Management Planning in the Sandyford Business District
• Westmeath County Council – “Bike Start” Information, Awareness and Education Programme
• Wexford Borough Council – Accessibility Works at O’Hanrahan Railway Station
Sports Development
• Carlow County Council – Tone Zone Outdoor Physical Activity Centre
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – “Getting Dún Laoghaire Active” through the dlr Bay 10k Race
• Leitrim County Council – Leitrim’s Community Club Fitness Programme
• Wexford County Council – The Wexford County Council Sports Development Programme
Sustainable Environment
• Cavan County Council – Energy Efficiency at Cavan County Museum
• Cavan Town Council – Green Lough Nature Area
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – “Re-imagining the Arches – Building A Sustainable Environment in Loughlinstown”
• Kilkenny County Council – Greening the Iverk Show
• Westmeath County Council – Eco Friendly Schools Competition
Outstanding Customer Service
• Dublin City Council – Home Grants business process re-engineering for increased customer focus and value for money
• Donegal County Council – Donegal Fire Service’s response to the gorse fires, May 2011
• South Dublin County Council – Choice Based Letting Scheme – Empowering the Customer
Local Authority Economic Efficiencies
• Fingal County Council – The Process of Organisational Change in Fingal County Council 2009 – 2011
• Wexford Local Authorities – Efficiency Measures in Wexford Local Authorities
• Laois County Council – Pump Energy Performance upgrades in Portlaoise Water Supply Scheme
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Enhancing Economic Efficiencies through Increased Pro-Active Engagement with Business Customers
• Cavan Town Council – Town Centre Car Park Lighting Project
County/City Development Board of the Year
• Carlow Local Authorities – Carlow County Development Board Rohingya Resettlement Programme
• Cavan County Council – Valuing Voices, Valuing Cultures: A multicultural project between Cavan PAPID Programme and St. Clare’s National School
• Kilkenny Local Authorities – Kilkenny Social Inclusion Interactive Mapping Module