Westminster City Council chief executive, Mike More, was among local government figures to be recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. The former Suffolk CC chief executive, who joined Westminster in April, was made a CBE, as was former Wakefield MDC top officer, John Foster, now at Islington, and Camden LBC's director of children, schools and families, Heather Schroeder. ‘More than anything, I am delighted this is further recognition for local government, which has a huge positive influence on so many people's lives,' said Mr Foster. Lin Homer, another former Suffolk CC chief executive, who now heads up the Border and Immigration Agency, was made Companion of the Bath, and Surrey CC leader, Nick Skellett, was made a CBE. Cllr Skellett said his award was ‘also recognition for the tireless and outstanding work of my colleagues' at Surrey CC. Winner of the top team award at last year's MJ awards, Tameside MBC's chief executive, Janet Callender, was made an OBE. ‘This should be seen not only as recognition of my achievement but also those of the council, which has seen unprecedented success in recent years,' said Mrs Callender. The managing director of Newport City Council, Chris Freegard, and deputy director of children's services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Gladys Rhodes, were both made OBEs. The IDeA's director of strategy, Paul Roberts; Shropshire CC chairman, Cllr Brian Gillow; and Buckinghamshire CC deputy leader, Bill Chapple, were also made OBEs. OBEs were also awarded to the director of education, leisure and lifelong learning at Neath Port Talbot CBC, Karl Napieralla; the City of London Corporation's director of open spaces, Jennifer Adams; and Glasgow City Council's director of housing and social work, David Comley.
