Penrith Town Council has been awarded a Quality Award and is the first Council in Cumbria to achieved this level of sector excellence.
Cllrs. Lawson and Jackson accepted the Quality Award for the Local Council Award Scheme from the Cumbria Association Local Councils Chair Cllr. Sue Castle Clarke
Penrith Town Council strives to serve the local community and make a real difference to the lives of local people. After an in-depth peer, review by the Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS) the Town Council has been awarded the ‘Quality Award.’
To achieve this award, a council ‘must demonstrate that it meets all requirements of the Foundation Award and has additional documentation and information in place for good governance, effective community engagement and council improvement.
The Quality award criteria includes the eligibility criteria for the general power of competence.’ The Town Mayor, Cllr Doug Lawson received the Award Certificate on behalf of the Council.
He said: “As the Mayor of Penrith and council chair, I am delighted to announce that Penrith Town Council is the first council in Cumbria to be awarded the Quality Award under the Local Council Award Scheme. An impressive achievement for a council established in only 2015.
“Over the last five years, the council officers and members have worked tirelessly to reach these quality sector standards. We want to acknowledge the support of the Cumbria Association of Local Councils throughout the process.
“This achievement recognises that Penrith Town Council achieves good practice in governance, community engagement and council improvement. The council has had an independent sector performance assessment, which identifies the council’s commitment and hard work.
“The assessment assures that the council’s operations are up-to-date, lawful, inclusive, engaging and progressive. Our local community, stakeholders and partners now have evidence to inspire their confidence that Penrith Town Council is delivering to a national quality standard.
“I am impressed by all the work carried out to help reach the Quality Award standard, and Penrith provides an excellent example of how a council can contribute positively to the well-being of the local and the wider community.
“It is through the sector working together to share best practice, drive up standards and supporting those who are committed to improving their offer to their communities, that individual councils and the sector as a whole will reach its full potential.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all their hard work and dedication. It is gratifying for all the hard work Penrith Town Council does for the community to be recognised. We will continue to strive to reach the highest sector standards and are building on this success to achieve the Quality Gold standard. As part of this process, we hope to participate in the National Association of Local Council’s Peer Review in reaching this goal.”
