Innovation by local authorities in delivering quality public services was recognised at the seventh annual Beacon Scheme awards ceremony.
The successful authorities will receive a share of Government funding worth £3m to enhance their work in sharing best practice and driving forward further innovation across local government. This year's event saw the highest number of awards yet, with a total of 61 Beacons presented to 85 authorities across the country.
The awards were made across 10 themes, including 'Waste and Recycling,' 'Positive Youth Engagement,' 'Improving Rural Services,' and 'Transforming the Delivery of Services Through Partnerships.'
Commenting on the award ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said: "I would like to congratulate all authorities who have achieved Beacon status this year. Beacon Authorities help to create sustainable communities by embedding good practice across local government for the delivery of high quality public services. I hope that other authorities will be encouraged to look at what they can learn from these Beacons."
In addition to presenting the awards, The Deputy Prime Minister also launched Round Eight of the scheme. Best Value Authorities will be able to apply for Beacon status in ten new themes. These are:
The full list of Beacon authorities announced can be viewed at www.odpm.gov.uk/beaconcouncils.
The Housing Corporation announced the twelve challengers that have been shortlisted as potential winners of its first Gold Awards competition. The Gold Awards, which celebrate excellence and innovation in social housing, attracted 72 entries in the two categories of "tacking homelessness" and "innovation in procurement."
Sir Duncan Michael, chairman of the Gold Award judging panel and member of the Housing Corporation Board said: "The Gold Award is all about celebrating what is best about the housing association sector, and ensuring that the very best practice is shared and applied. I am delighted that in our first year, competition entries have exceeded our expectations in both quality and number. Congratulations are due to all of those who made the shortlist, and to the many other associations who put forward excellent submissions for consideration."
The shortlisted entrants are as follows:
Launched in June 2005, the Gold Award competition is open to housing associations able to demonstrate outstanding performance in key areas of business. The Award aims to identify excellence and raise operational standards for the benefit of residents across the sector. For the first round of the awards, the two themes for the competition are "tackling homelessness" and "innovation in procurement."
Each winning association will receive a prize of £50,000 to help fund their involvement in a year long programme of knowledge dissemination, to be coordinated by the Housing Corporation. Winners will also be entitled to display the Gold Award logo on their stationery and web sites, allowing residents, peers, and stakeholders to recognise their success at a glance.
The Asylum Seekers Unit (ASU) of Your Homes Newcastle is one of three finalists for the Housing team award category in the eagerly-anticipated national Public Servants of the Year Awards 2006 - celebrating Pride in the Public Services.
The ASU beat tough competition from nearly 300 exceptional teams nominated for this year's awards. The unit is up against two other finalists: Richmond Housing Partnership Estate Services Team and the Wigan and Leigh Housing Contact Centre. Together, they are in the running to scoop the Housing team award. The winner will then stand a chance of securing the prestigious title of Outstanding Public Service Team of the Year 2006, which this year will be decided by a People's Panel, consisting of members of the public.
ASU team members were shortlisted for their outstanding work in warmly welcoming and assisting asylum seekers and refugees to Newcastle. The purpose of the ASU is to provide accommodation for asylum seekers in Newcastle, but it goes well above and beyond this remit. As an asylum seeker or refugee, feelings of isolation and alienation are commonplace in a new culture. In some instances, racism towards these groups also occurs. The ASU has devised several programmes to tackle these issues head on through greater integration in local communities.
The Asylum Seekers Unit is part of Your Homes Newcastle, an arms-length organisation which looks after the City's council homes on behalf of Newcastle City Council. The unit provides support and accommodation to approximately 800 asylum seekers and up to 100 refugee households.
The unit helps to make asylum seekers feel like included members of the community by registering people for English classes when needed, organising special events to break down barriers with the local community, funding a counseling service for traumatised victims of torture, conducting monthly home visits, providing an out-of-hours service for emergencies, and working closely with the Police and Racial Harassment Prevention Team to combat racism and provide victim support.
The unit helps clients to access the full range of council services and those provided by voluntary agencies. It also works closely with the local council to meet the health and social care needs of clients who have lost their entitlement to remain the UK.
The fact that 92% of asylum seekers in Newcastle would like to settle in the area if granted refugee status is a testament to the support they receive from both the unit and their host communities. Your Homes Newcastle has also developed a Move-On Service to support refugees who choose to make the City their home.
Audit Commission local authority inspection reports released during March 2006 included the following:
Ashfield Homes (Ashfield DC ALMO)
Three-star excellent service with excellent prospects for improvement.
Brighton and Hove City Council (Supporting People)
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
Cambridge County Council (Supporting People)
One-star fair service with uncertain prospects for improvement.
Eastbourne Homes (Eastbourne BC ALMO)
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
Hartlepool Borough Council (Supporting People)
Zero-star fair service with uncertain prospects for improvement.
Nottingham City Homes (Nottingham Council ALMO)
One-star fair service with uncertain prospects for improvement.
Oxfordshire County Council (Supporting People)
Two-star good service with promising prospects for improvement.
Redbridge London Borough Council (Housing Management)
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
Redbridge London Borough Council (Repairs & Maintenance)
Two-star good service with promising prospects for improvement.
Thurrock Borough Council (Supporting People)
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
Audit Commission housing association inspection reports issued during March 2006 included the following.
Arhag Housing Association Ltd.
Zero-star poor service with uncertain prospects for improvement.
Ashram Housing Association Ltd.
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
Atlantic Housing Ltd. - Landlord Services (Eastleigh Housing Association)
Two-star good service with promising prospects for improvement.
Aspire Housing Ltd.
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
London Strategic Housing Ltd. (Network Group)
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
Southern Horizon Housing Ltd.
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
St Mungo Community Housing Association
Two-star good service with promising prospects for improvement.
Weaver Housing Trust Ltd.
One-star fair service with uncertain prospects for improvement.