Council unity recognised at national awards

Pictured at the recent APSE Awards with the Council's Building Control Unit's Highly Commended Certificate presented by Maria Filippov of Dancing on Ice fame are: (l-r) Alderman James Tinsley, Vice-Chair of the Council's Planning Committee; Paul McAteer, Assistant Director of Environmental Services; the Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Andrew Ewing; Michael Maguire, Business Development Manager; Kerrie-Anne McKibbin, Performance Development Officer and Councillor Uel Mackin, Chairman of the Council's Planning Committee.

This is the third year in a row that the Council’s Building Control Unit has been shortlisted in the competitive ‘Best Service Team, Construction and Building Services’ category.

The APSE Awards are specific to frontline services provided by local authorities across the UK. Lisburn City Council was shortlisted by an expert panel of judges in recognition of its continued high quality services to its customers.

The Building Control Unit was one of seven shortlisted finalists in the category, sponsored by LED Planet, and the Council is very proud of this national nomination.

Councillor Uel Mackin, Chairman of the Council’s Planning Committee, said: “Lisburn City Council’s Building Control Unit over the past three years has continued to develop its ability to provide an innovative and effective service delivery to its users. This is the third consecutive year that this service has received national recognition and I am confident that it positively highlights our ongoing commitment to customer service.

“The Council was competing against shortlisted councils from England and Scotland and to have been the only Northern Ireland council shortlisted in the category is fantastic. This places Lisburn City Council at the cutting edge of service delivery and I would like to congratulate everyone within Building Control on their achievement.”

The Awards were presented at a charity dinner held in aid of Parkinson’s UK; and was attended by over 450 delegates including Government Ministers and Senior Local Government figures who were there to celebrate the very best in public sector service delivery.

APSE Chief Executive Paul O’Brien, speaking at the Awards, said: “I am enormously proud of the contribution made by local government frontline services to our local communities. All the finalists and winners are deserving of their recognition.”

The compere for the evening was Maria Filippov of Dancing on Ice fame.