Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities Councillor Elias Mattu and Cabinet Member for Children and Families Val Gibson are in the running for recognition at the LGiU and CCLA C’llr Achievement Awards 2015, which take place next month.
Councillor Mattu has been shortlisted in the Community Champion category for his work supporting the development of a network of community hubs around Wolverhampton.
The nomination to the judging panel states: “Councillor Mattu was extremely passionate about this project and strongly believes that by bringing important services like libraries and community centres together under one roof, he could make them more easily accessible to customers as well as more cost-effective for the council – therefore protecting them as much as possible during these challenging financial times.
“Through his work to tirelessly champion the hubs concept Councillor Mattu has gained a great deal of respect from officers and community leaders and is recognised as one of the hardest working members of the council. His efforts have enabled Wolverhampton to continue to offer quality library provision.”
Meanwhile, Councillor Gibson has been nominated in the Innovation category for her work around children in care in Wolverhampton.
The nomination highlights the way she has championed the council’s Families in Focus programme, designed to help “troubled families” turn their lives around.
Over the last five years, the number of children in care in Wolverhampton has doubled, but through the efforts of the Families in Focus programme, which puts greater emphasis on tackling problems within the family unit and early intervention work, that number is now starting to come down.
The nominated adds: “A dedicated campaign to recruit additional local foster families has also been launched in support of Families in Focus, and Councillor Gibson has played a key role in fronting this campaign and challenging the myths about fostering.”
The LGiU and CCLA C’llr Achievement Awards aim to recognise councillors who show dedication to their communities and make positive changes to the lives of people locally.
Both councillors were nominated by Councillor Roger Lawrence, Leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council, who said: “I congratulate Councillors Gibson and Mattu on being shortlisted for these prestigious awards.
“To receive national recognition of this kind at a time when the council is facing unprecedented government budget cuts is a reflection of their hard work and that of council officers. I wish them luck for the awards ceremony next month.”
The LGiU and CCLA C’llr Achievement Awards 2014 will be held on Monday 2 March, 2015. For more information, please visit http://www.lgiu.org.uk/home/cllrawards/.