Double win for East Riding of Yorkshire Council at national excellence awards

East Riding of Yorkshire Council scooped two national trophies at the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Awards.

East Riding Leisure Beverley and the council’s waste management team were both honoured at APSE’s annual Performance Networks Awards.

The awards, held in Blackpool in December, recognise the top performing services from more than 200 councils across the country.

East Riding Leisure Beverley was presented with the award for Best Performer in the Sports and Leisure Facility Management category, beating seven other finalists.

The council’s waste management team was named Most Improved Performer in the Refuse Collection category, beating nine other finalists from across the UK.

Both services also received certificates after being shortlisted as finalists in two further categories – Best Performer in Refuse Collection and Most Improved Performer in Sports and Leisure Facility Management.

Paul Bellotti, the council’s interim director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services, said: “Both these awards are fantastic achievements.

“East Riding Leisure Beverley has now won the Best Performing Leisure Centre award six times, which is an outstanding result.

“We are now the best local authority for recycling in England and our refuse collection crews provide our residents with a first class service.

“So I’d like to thank all our dedicated staff, and also the members and residents across the East Riding for their continued support of our leisure services and all our recycling schemes.”

The APSE Performance Networks Awards recognise the best and most improved council services across the UK.

APSE is the largest public sector benchmarking service in the UK and is used by more than 200 local authorities.

To be considered for the awards, authorities submit entries giving a whole host of information such as service quality, productivity, customer satisfaction, usage and costs. Entries are then independently validated and compared with other councils, with the best performers going on to win the awards.

APSE chief executive Paul O’Brien said: “The winners and finalists of these awards are stunning examples of what local government is capable of achieving.

“That is not to say austerity is not hitting councils hard because it is, however these winners and finalists are proof that in spite of the challenges local councils are using innovation and efficiency to continue to deliver superb local services.”