As the public face of the council, leaders will have strong relationships with community groups and put residents at the heart of what they do. They will be prepared to answer difficult questions and ensure that they are held accountable for decisions that are made. The councillor who wins this category will have:

• Exceptional leadership skills that make a real difference in the lives of constituents.
• Developed strong relationships with community groups and prioritised residents’ needs.
• Demonstrated a willingness to take responsibility for decisions made and answer challenging questions.
• An outstanding commitment to their role as a councillor and leader of the council.
• A clear vision for the council’s priorities, which aligns with the community’s needs and preferences.
• Demonstrated successful leadership that has helped the council achieve its goals.
• Built strong relationships with council partners.
• A commitment to transparency, accountability, and scrutiny.
• The ability to unite the council, despite differing views and party affiliations, to deliver the best outcomes for the community.

Good submissions will:

• Provide clear examples of work or projects they have carried out that have benefitted residents (either internal council structures/processes or outward-facing projects);
• Focus on how the leader has gone above and beyond their statutory role;
• Outline how they have effectively managed the council.

Nominations should be for the current council leader.

This award recognises a councillor who was 30 or younger when last elected and who has contributed significantly to their community and council during their time in office. The councillor who wins this category will:

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to their community through council structures.
• Contribute significantly to a key council project(s) that benefits residents.
• Show leadership potential and dedication to improving their constituents’ lives.
• Engage young people and promote their participation in democratic processes.

Good submissions will:

• Provide clear examples of work or projects they have carried out that evidence the above criteria;
• Focus on how they have gone above and beyond their statutory role.

Nominations should be for a councillor who is currently on the council.

The Community Champion Award is our most popular category. The councillor who wins this award will demonstrate:

• They have championed a cause (or several) on behalf of the community using council mechanisms or structures, leading to positive change for the local area.
• Visible efforts to engage communities and individuals in decisions about their local area, leading to better outcomes for local people.
• An understanding of the different views of communities within their area, and that they effectively facilitate discussion and representation of these views to the council.
• Strong relationships with community activists and community groups, which have led to tangible positive changes.
• They have worked tirelessly to use their position within the council to bring residents’ voices into council decision-making, support their projects and ideas, and bridge diverse opinions within the community.

Good submissions will:

• Provide clear examples of work or projects they have carried out in their role as a councillor, which evidence the above criteria;
• Focus on how the councillor has used council structures to bring about a positive change in the community.

Nominations should be for a councillor who is currently on the council.

The winner will be a councillor who prioritises community well-being, using innovative ideas to drive change, and takes a forward-thinking approach to promote sustainable development. They pay close attention to social justice and address systemic issues in the community. The councillor who wins this category will:

• Initiate and execute reforms that have significant positive impacts on the community, including addressing social issues and promoting environmental sustainability.
• Challenge the status quo and introduce innovative ideas that revolutionise their field.
• Demonstrate a forward-thinking and preventative approach to projects, with a focus on future-proofing initiatives and promoting sustainable development.
• Promote social equality and justice and address systemic issues in the community.
• Prioritise the community’s well-being and deliver tangible outcomes that demonstrate the value of their initiatives.

Good submissions will:

• Provide clear examples of work or projects the councillor has carried out which meet the criteria outlined above;
• Provide evidence of positive outcomes that have been achieved as a result of their efforts or evidence of the projected positive impact.

Nominations should be for a councillor who is currently on the council.

This award celebrates a councillor who has dedicated 15 or more continuous years to serving their local community through their role on the council, maintaining their passion and enthusiasm for improving the lives of their residents. It recognises their positive and lasting contributions through a long-term focus on a particular issue, the cumulative effect of many smaller projects, or both. The winner of this award will demonstrate:

• Longevity of service, having served as a councillor (on the nominating council) continuously for at least 15 years.
• Passion and enthusiasm for improving the lives of their residents.
• Leadership or extra responsibility on the council during their time as a councillor and a significant number of achievements over a period of years.
• Contributions to a number of important local government projects that have benefited citizens.
• They have delivered positive and sustained impact for their community through a long-term focus on a particular issue, the cumulative effect of many smaller projects, or both.

Good submissions will:

• Provide clear examples of work or projects the councillor has carried out or been significantly involved in throughout their entire time in office.
• Provide evidence of the lasting impacts of the councillor’s work and the contribution they have made to their community and the council.

For the Lifetime Legend category, we will accept posthumous nominations or nominations for councillors who have stepped down from the council, if they were a serving councillor at some point during the 12 months preceding 1 November 2026.