Two Sussex council leaders are to battle it out to be named the best in the country.
Jason Kitcat from Brighton and Hove City Council and James Page from Lewes District Council are up for the title of Leader of the Year at the 2013 C’llr Achievement Awards.
The Local Government Information Unit (LGIU), which organises the awards, said they had been nominated by the public and shortlisted from a record number of nominees.
A panel of judges will decide the winner on the basis of commitment to the role, a vision for their community, successful leadership, good community relations, accountability and the ability to unite supporters.
Coun Kitcat, below, the leader of the city council’s Green group, has only been in the post since last April, when he took over from Bill Randall. He has called for councillors to be paid salaries and fought the Government for the right to put up council tax to avoid cuts.
After learning of his shortlisting he said he had not been told why he had been picked ahead of other nominees.
He said: “It is humbling to be nominated and shortlisted. I think it reflects the hard work that has been done by all my colleagues, councillors and officers.”
Coun Page, the leader of the Lewes Conservative group, was elected leader of the council in February last year, taking over from Tony Nicholson.
Accepting his new post he said the council was “no longer up to the mark” and called for efficiency savings and better customer service.
Awards ceremony
The shortlist will be judged by a panel, including the charity Age UK.
Eric Pickles, secretary of state for communities and local government, is due to address the awards ceremony at which the councillors will find out if they have won on February 25.
Dr Jonathan Carr-West, the acting chief executive of LGIU, said: “Councillors can often |represent the unsung heroes of their community so the awards provide a fantastic chance to celebrate their achievements.”
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