The Local Council Award Scheme exists to celebrate the successes of the very best local councils and to provide a framework to support all local councils to meet their full potential. Councils can apply for an award at one of three levels.
The Foundation Award
Demonstrates that a council meets the minimum requirements for operating lawfully and according to standard practice.
Quality Award
Demonstrates that a council achieves good practice in governance, community engagement and council improvement
Quality Gold Award
Demonstrates that a council is at the forefront of best practice and achieves excellence in governance, community leadership and council development.
The Accreditation Process
All applications are vetted by a local County Durham Accreditation Panel which peer reviews submissions and decides on whether an award should be approved.Where the Panel declines to confer a relevant status, the council will be told why and the Panel will indicate the specific improvements that are expected and, when the requested information is provided, the relevant status will be granted.
Successful councils receive a certificate confirming their relevant status for 4 years and can use the relevant LCAS logo during this period. Councils will be required to re-apply every 4 years to retain their status.
Benefits of the Scheme
The scheme sets out the criteria for each of the award shown above covering selected aspects of a council’s work. Councils can seek to progress through the tiers over time thereby raisin their standards. Councils of any size can aspire to an award appropriate for their budget and level of activity.
Local Council Award Scheme Councils
In the Association’s area the following councils currently hold a LCAS award.
- Bishop Auckland (Foundation)
- Coxhoe (Foundation)
- Gainford and Langton (Foundation)
- Hawthorn (Foundation)
- Hurworth Parish Council (Quality Gold)
- Waldridge (Foundation)
- Winston Parish Council (Foundation)