BRIGHTON and Hove’s mayor has been named among the top councillors in the country.

Councillor Pete West narrowly missed out on being named county councillor of the year at an awards ceremony this week.

The city’s first ever Green councillor, Cllr West was shortlisted for the award but missed out to Lynn Pallister of Redcar and Cleveland council at the ceremony on Tuesday night.

The St Peter’s and North Laine councillor, who was first elected as councillor in 1996, was nominated for bringing about a positive change in the community, his committed advocacy for constituents and for building strong relationships with community groups and council partners.

The father of three became city mayor in May and caused quite a stir with his radical shake-up of the role’s fundraising choosing to give his backing to 27 organisations, including four national charities, rather than the traditional three.

He has attended a huge number of events since donning the ceremonial robes and is regularly spotted cycling on the mayoral tandem between engagements.

The seventh annual Cllr Achievement Awards are the only national ceremony to honour the hard work of councillors from across the country that often goes unrecognised.

Organisers received 200 nominations before whittling down to a shortlist of 45 nominees for nine different awards.

Cllr West had been hoping to follow in the footsteps of former party colleague Jason Kitcat who received a judges’ special award for contribution to local government last year.

Newhaven Town Councillor Carla Butler won the young councillor of the year award in 2010.