Title

MJ AWARDS

Plymouth named local authority of the year at MJ Achievement Awards

The council took home the top gong at glittering ceremony.

Plymouth City Council pipped fellow contenders to be named Local Authority of the Year at The MJ Achievement Awards this afternoon.

They were among the winners announced at a glittering ceremony at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane in London.

The judges described Plymouth as ‘a local authority that has put culture-led regeneration at its heart' that was ‘determined to put its city on the map for all the right reasons'.

This year saw hundreds of entries across 17 categories covering everything from social care to digital, and public health to transformation.

Broadcaster and former shadow chancellor Ed Balls was on hand to host the gala dinner attended by more than 800 guests.

Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, said: ‘Once again these awards have showcased the hugely important role our local authorities play in their communities and why we need them more than ever in these uncertain times.

‘Our judges had a tough time picking out the winners in each category with the competition particularly strong this year.

‘Congratulations to Plymouth and all this year's winners.'

MJ AWARDS

Grasping a once in a lifetime opportunity for councils

By Anna Randle | 04 November 2026

As well as making the case for the role local government can play in a rewired state, the sector also needs to ask for some enabling powers of its own, write...

MJ AWARDS

Call for commissioners at strategic authority

By Dan Peters | 02 November 2026

The Labour group leader at Hull City Council has called for the Government to ‘step in to appoint commissioners’ at his strategic authority.

MJ AWARDS

Local growth needs consistency, not constant reinvention

By Sir Michael Lyons | 30 October 2026

Sustainable local economic growth requires long-term regeneration partnerships, strong council leadership and consistent government support, says Sir Michael...

MJ AWARDS

AI Innovation: Shifting from experimentation to transformation in local government

By MJ Correspondent | 29 October 2026

The shortlisted entries from last year's The MJ Awards showcased councils moving beyond pilots to embedding AI into the heart of public service delivery. We ...

Martin Ford

Popular articles by Martin Ford

-->