The best local authority in the UK was officially confirmed last week as South Tyneside MBC at a glittering gala evening organised by The MJ for its annual awards. The council won local government's top award, The MJ Best Achieving Council of the Year, at the event attended by almost 1,000 people at London's Hilton Hotel, Park Lane. Hosted by Channel 4 News anchorman, Jon Snow, and attended by communities secretary, Hazel Blears, the gala night saw a total of 16 councils and their partners win top awards. The judges were impressed with the council's innovative ‘Spirit of South Tyneside' initiative and its focus on customers. Among those pictured are Cllr Alan Kerr, Cllr Steve Harrison, Cllr Marjorie Robinson, Marietta Evans, chief executive Irene Lucas, Ali Muhammed, Geoff Ford, Sue Key of Unison, Peter Martin of sponsor Tribal Group plc, and Mr Snow. The full results are on the website Localgov.co.uk, and on page 35 in The MJ this week. They will also appear in a special awards supplement in next week's issue of The MJ.
