28/03/2024: Council on track for double award glory

Breckland Council could pick up not one but two national awards this summer after being shortlisted in a pair of categories at the Municipal Journal (MJ) Awards 2024.

Firstly, the district council has been named as a finalist in the Community Engagement category of the MJ Awards, in recognition of its Future Breckland work.

The Future Breckland programme saw the council engage with hundreds of residents and the council's partners to identify priorities for the district, which led to the creation of a series of inter-linked plans for each of Breckland's towns that were directly informed by local people's views.

The council could also pick up a second award as Breckland's Chief Executive, Maxine O'Mahony, is one of just four CEOs from across the country to be in the running for the Chief Executive of the Year award.

Maxine's brand of leadership has seen her place people firmly at the heart of everything the council does. She has a background in human resources and first joined the council in 2007. Since being appointed as the Council's Chief Executive in 2021, Maxine has focused on creating a supportive and innovative culture within the organisation, closely aligning the council staff's efforts to delivering services which have been prioritised by councillors and which best meet the needs of the district's residents.

The award winners are due to be announced in June. If successful, the council will add to a growing series of silverware which includes winning the Health and Social Care Award at the Local Government Chronicle Awards last year, alongside awards for refurbishing the Elm House temporary accommodation site in Thetford, renovating the Queen Mother's Garden community space in Dereham, and multiple awards for animal welfare support, among others.

Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Breckland's Leader, commented: "We're delighted to be in the running for these prestigious, national awards. As a council we strive to work closely with our residents and businesses and put in place services and plans to meet their needs not only now but in the future. I'd like to thank all of our residents who have engaged so positively with us to help shape the district and also thank the council's members and officers for working so hard for the people we serve. In particular, I'd like to thank and congratulate Maxine on being shortlisted, which itself is a great achievement and very much deserved."

Maxine O'Mahony, Chief Executive of Breckland Council, added: "I had no idea I had been nominated for the award so to hear I have been shortlisted was a complete shock and very humbling. I'm incredibly proud of everything we've achieved recently and I have a brilliant team around me which is delivering the best possible services to the people of Breckland, so I hope to bring back the award not just for myself but for everybody at Team Breckland!"