Cork City Council Named Local Authority of the Year 2005

Photographer: Gráinne Duggan

Pictured at the Awards Ceremony at Clontarf Castle are (L-R) :

Pat Ledwidge, Director Of Community and Enterprise, Cork City Council, Michael Geary, Chief Executive, Cork Chamber of Commerce, Dick Roche, Minister for Environment Heritage and Local Government, Joe Gavin, City Manager, Rodger Flack, President, Cork Chamber of Commerce, Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Deirdre Clune, Joe Kennelly, Director of Services, Recreation, Amenity and Culture, Cork City Council, Ronan Whelan, O2, Robin O Sullivan, President CCI.

The Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) has named Cork City Council as Local Authority of the Year at its second annual CCI Excellence in Local Government Awards, which were presented at a ceremony in Clontarf Castle, Dublin last night (15th November 2005). The Council also won the RTÉ Arts, Culture and Recreation Award for its European Capital of Culture programme and the Waterford Crystal Partnership with Business Award for its Connect Cork initiative.

The awards aim to acknowledge and encourage innovation and best practice among Ireland’s local authorities. Local authorities all over Ireland were commended for initiatives such as a public-private partnership community centre in a previously disadvantaged area; innovative waste management programmes, spatial information delivery systems and outstanding customer service.

On naming Cork City Council as Local Authority of the Year, CCI President Robin O’Sullivan, former President of Cork Chamber of Commerce said, “Cork City Council has proven itself to be highly innovative in both its own operations and enhancing the economic development of the city without losing sight of the social inclusion imperatives important to its clientele.”

Programmes administered by the Council and commended by the jury include Connect Cork—a comprehensive information and communications plan, which raises awareness for online services particularly for SMEs in Cork, and The Newcomers’ Guide to Cork City– a guide that introduces newcomers to all aspects of living in Cork. Printed in English, French, Russian and Romanian, it also signposts readers to where they can find more detailed information and support

Message from Mr. J. Gavin, City Manager.

Cork City Council Wins “Local Authority of the Year”
At the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland
Excellence in Local Government Awards 2005

Cork City Council won three prestigious awards which were presented last night in Clontarf Castle by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government. The awards were made under the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards Scheme.

Awards received were as follows:

1. Arts, Culture and Recreation Award

The City Council won this award and was commended for running thousands of quality events and projects as part of its designation as European Capital of Culture 2005, attracting major inward investment to the City.

2. Partnership with Business Award

The City Council won this award and was commended for developing “Connect Cork” – a comprehensive information and communications technology plan to secure Cork’s position as an “e-enabled” city through raising awareness and increasing demand for online services, particularly amongst SME’s.

3. Local Authority of the Year

Cork City Council won the overall Local Authority of the Year Award.

The Council was commended for its integrated approach to improving its own operations as well as the economic development of the city while staying mindful of social inclusion imperatives important to its clientele.

Every employee of Cork City Council can take pride in these achievements as the works undertaken by the Council are a combination of the efforts of all departments. I thank all employees for their work and commitment.

I would also like to acknowledge the support of all Elected Members and their input into the operations of the City Council.

Cork Chamber of Commerce nominated the City Council for these awards and I am grateful to them for their support and for the confidence they have shown in the Council.

CCI’s Excellence in Local Government Awards 2005

1 Local Authority of the Year

1. Cork City Council

2. Leitrim County Council

3. South Dublin County Council

Winner: Cork City Council

2 Arts, Culture and Recreation

Cork City Council – 2005 European Capital of Culture
Laois County Council – “Playing for Keeps”
Waterford City Council – Tall Ships Race 2005

Winner: Cork City Council

3 Economic Development

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council – Extension of LUAS from Sandyford to Cherrywood
Leitrim County Council – General Economic Development
South Dublin County Council – Grange Castle Business Park

Winner: South Dublin County Council

4.1 Environment Initiative

Cavan County Council – Water Pollution Bye-laws
Louth County Council – Community Environment Campaign
Meath County Council – Pride of Place Initiatives

Winner: Cavan County Council

4.2 Waste Management

Cavan County Council – “Adopt A Road” litter programme
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council – Pay by Weight/Presentation Refuse Collection
Fingal County Council – Clean Sweep for Swords

Winner: Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

5 Partnership with Business

Cork City Council – “Connect Cork”
Limerick County Council – Small Towns and Villages Initiative

Winner: Cork City Council

6 Social and Community Development

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council – Estate Management
Galway City Council - Ballybane Neighbourhood Village Project
Kildare County Council – DARA – Delivering Access Rights to All

Winner: Galway City Council

7 Technology

Cork County Council – Regional Broadband Programme
Dublin City Council – LUAS Monitoring System
South Dublin County Council – Spatial Information Delivery

Winner: South Dublin County Council

8 Outstanding Customer Service

Carlow Local Authorities
Leitrim County Council
South Dublin County Council

Winner: Leitrim County Council

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