Cllr Awards: Lifetime Legend
Award Guidelines
This award celebrates a councillor who has dedicated 15 or more 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 will recognise their positive and lasting contribution to their community through a long-term focus on a particular issue or the cumulative effect of many smaller projects, or both.
Lifetime Achievement
The winner of this award will demonstrate:
• longevity of service;
• that they have held positions of leadership or extra responsibility on the council during their time as a councillor;
• a significant number of achievements over a period of years;
• that they have led a number of important local government projects that have benefited citizens.
Successful submissions should:
• provide clear examples of work or projects they have carried out throughout their entire time in office;
• Provide evidence of lasting impacts and contributions they have made.
Post-humous nominations or nominations for recently retired councillors will be accepted for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Watch the stories of recent winners...
Life as a councillor is full of ups and downs – surprises, disappointments, achievements, and learning curves. There’s never a dull day, even after many years of service.
Transforming council housing: Lewis Herbert
Cllr Herbert of Cambridge City Council was selected for the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 in England & Wales because of the transformative approach to social inclusion that has been a hallmark of his 18 years as a councillor. He was recognised for his part in leading Cambridge’s negotiations around the devolution deal, which has enabled the Council to start building a significant number of council houses.
Ensuring community thrives: Hilda Rhodes
Cllr Rhodes of Telford & Wrekin Council was selected for the Lifetime Achievement Award in England and Wales in 2022for the extraordinary way she has serviced her local community as a councillor for the past 35 years. She was recognised for providing a strong voice on the council for the whole community – young and old alike.
Helping heroes: Malcolm Cunning
Bailie Cunning of Glasgow City Council was selected posthumously for the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award in England & Wales in recognition of more than twenty years of service in local government. He is remembered as the very definition of a dedicated and experienced local councillor.
Feeling Inspired?
Life as a councillor is full of ups and downs – surprises, disappointments, achievements, and learning curves. There’s never a dull day, even after many years of service. Read their stories and increase your leadership stills now!
The impressive career and many hats of Cllr Shelia Peacock
Winner of the Lifetime Achievement award at the England and Wales Cllr Awards 2021, Cllr Shelia Peacock, shares her story of a life in service of her community, filled with impressive achievements that have changed the world around her and made an impact that has already been, and will continue to be, felt for decades. Read more here.
The Wigan Deal story
I wish I could boast that the Wigan Deal was a fully-formed plan ready to be taken off the shelf to deal with austerity, but this was not the case. Continue reading…
Online training: Scrutiny
This session will have you asking questions like a champion. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat in anticipation while providing comprehensive tools and frameworks to implement moving forward. Save your spot now!
More stories from past winners...
Motivating and celebrating: Sheila Peacock
Cllr Peacock of Haringey Council received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her immense contribution to her community and the boundless energy she brings to the role of councillor. She was first elected in 1994 and has been involved in numerous projects over the years, including the supported housing committee, pensioners groups, and the Tottenham carnival.
Fighting cancer behind the scenes: Willie Sawers
Bailie Sawers of Dundee City Council won the Lifetime Contribution Award in Scotland in 2021 for his tireless work in helping to deliver the progress to date on the £1bn Waterfront project, including the V&A Dundee. Bailie Sawers was also praised for his contribution to the Dundee Macmillan service, a project which secured half a million pounds in financial support and benefits over 300 people living with cancer in Dundee.
Finding a way forward: Nick Ridley OBE
Cllr Ridley of Babergh District Council won the Lifetime Achievement Award in England & Wales in 2020.
Supporting young people: Eileen Logan
Cllr Logan of South Lanarkshire Council was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Scotland in 2020.
Thanks to our founding partners, CCLA
This year’s Awards are only possible thanks to the generous support of our founding partners CCLA.
CCLA is a leading specialist fund manager for local authorities and charities. When they began sponsoring the Cllr Awards they had 22 local authority client accounts. Today they have over 700 and this number is growing every month. CCLA are owned by their clients – their mission is to serve the whole sector, regardless of size.
