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Harrow LBC has been judged the best achieving council in the UK at the annual awards organised by The MJ. At a gala ceremony in London on 23 June, the council was chosen by a panel of distinguished judges as winner of the Best Achieving Council category. The judges said Harrow delivered ‘sustained and embedded change', using a modern approach to doing business, but never losing sight of its priorities, namely, its residents.' They added: ‘Its political and managerial leaders showed both maturity and professionalism, and their sense of passion and pride for Harrow is tangible.' Harrow chief executive, Michael Lockwood, leads his successful team. (Pic: All pictures copyright Chris Sharp.) Judges were Helen Bailey, chief executive of Local Partnerships; Sir Bob Kerslake, permanent secretary at the DCLG; Kim Ryley, chief executive of Shropshire Council and president of SOLACE; and Julie Towers, managing director, Recruitment Solutions at Penna, sponsor of the category. The award was collected by Harrow chief executive, Michael Lockwood, and his colleagues from the evening's presenter, Alastair Campbell, columnist and former head of communications at Number 10. Highly commended in the category was Oldham MBC, while finalists were Cornwall Council, Fenland DC, Teignbridge DC and Wakefield City Council. At The MJ awards gala evening at London's Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, winners in 13 categories were announced out of a total of 81 finalists. The MJ's editor, Michael Burton, introducing the evening's awards presentation, said: ‘Our awards foster, encourage and promote high quality through the sector which, in turn, means better services for the public. Local government will adapt and survive difficult times because it is an engine of creativity, as we are witnessing tonight.' A special prize was awarded to Baroness Margaret Eaton who this week steps down as chairman of the LGA after three years

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Harrow named best council

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