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Local Government Chronicle Awards

Dear Sir
The Local Government Chronicle held its annual national award ceremony last week at the Dorchester Hotel in London. These prestigious awards go to efficient, high performing local councils across the country that combine good financial management with the provision of high quality services to their council tax payers. This is a difficult balance to achieve, as councils are constantly asked to spend more, but charge less.

This year, the London Borough of Havering was shortlisted for an award for its Exchequer Services, in recognition of its high level of council tax and non domestic rate collection, and for Pension Fund of the Year, for sound financial management.
But its greatest success was winning the award for the best council in the country for its Financial Services. Congratulations are due to Cllr Roger Ramsey, who has cabinet responsibility for finance. Cllr Ramsey and the Council’s Director of Finance, Rita Greenwood have worked together to achieve a remarkable turnaround in Havering’s finances. Council tax increases have been kept to a record low, while investing in public services and infrastructure, and returning the council to a sound financial position from the parlous state it was in when the Conservatives regained control in 2002. To have done this in such a short period of time led to this well deserved accolade in the face of some stiff competition from councils up and down the country. Well done!

Yours sincerely, Angela Watkinson MP