National award recognises North Lincolnshire Council’s commitment to community

North Lincolnshire Council’s commitment to supporting communities and improving outcomes for residents has been recognised with a prestigious national award.

The MJ Achievement Awards – where North Lincolnshire Council was crowned Council of the Year – recognised the commitment to free car-parking, free books for children, protecting libraries, free swimming, investment in leisure centres, improving parks and green spaces and planting hundreds of thousands of trees.

Judges praised the council’s “unwavering focus on residents”, strong “values-driven leadership” and its ability to combine “ambition with honesty” while continually striving to improve.

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “This award is really about North Lincolnshire and the people who make this such a great place to live, work and raise a family.

“We have ambitious communities, hardworking businesses, dedicated volunteers and people who care deeply about where they live. As a council, our job is to work alongside them, remove barriers, create opportunities and help people succeed.

“What makes me most proud is that this recognition reflects the difference being made in people’s lives. Whether that’s helping a family through a difficult time, supporting a young person to achieve their potential, creating opportunities for business growth or investing in the places people call home, everything we do is focused on delivering real outcomes for residents.

“This award recognises the progress we have made together, but I know there is still more to do, I listen to residents’ feedback every day and that strengthens our determination to keep improving and delivering what matters for the people of North Lincolnshire.”

The judges described North Lincolnshire as a council with a clear strategic direction, strong accountability and a deep understanding of its communities. They highlighted the authority’s focus on delivering real outcomes for residents and described it as an organisation that “not only delivers but leads with purpose and integrity”.

Alison Barker, chief executive, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “This award belongs to every member of staff across North Lincolnshire Council – whether you work on the frontline, in our communities, in our schools, in our offices or behind the scenes, you play a part in making a difference to residents every single day.

“What the judges recognised was not a single project or initiative, but a way of working that puts residents first, focuses on outcomes and never loses sight of why we are here.

“I am incredibly proud of what we achieve together. We have built a culture where people care deeply about residents, support one another and continually look for better ways to serve our communities.”

The award follows continued recognition from independent Local Government Association peer reviewers, who identified North Lincolnshire as a well-led, high-performing council with much to offer the wider local government sector.

As the council looks to the future, it remains focused on what matters most – supporting residents, strengthening communities and ensuring North Lincolnshire continues to be a place where people can thrive.