A Staffordshire council’s chief executive is among just five across the UK to be shortlisted for Chief Executive of the Year.
Dave Heywood, chief executive at South Staffordshire Council, has been named a finalist for the national accolade by awards body and local government publication The Municipal Journal (MJ).
According to the MJ, a record number of entries were received for the award this year.
Dave was nominated by his colleagues at the district council for a range of reasons, including his unique leadership style, his desire to foster and progress the careers of those within and outside his local authority, his inclusive attitude, and his successes in working with partners and attracting investment to the area.
He was unaware he had been nominated for the award by his peers until the deadline had closed.
Dave said: “To have been simply nominated for the award by members of our workforce is humbling and wonderful.
“I am delighted to have been shortlisted against what was undoubtedly stiff competition.”
When opening for submissions, the MJ said its judges were ‘looking for chief executives who have displayed outstanding leadership, innovation, determination and commitment to their authorities and their communities’.
Others up for the award are the chief executives from Melton Borough Council, Cornwall Council, Newcastle City Council, and North Somerset Council.
Staffordshire County Council has been shortlisted in the Innovation in Delivering Sustainability and Social Value category at the same awards.
Recent major achievements made by the council in this field include reducing its carbon emissions by 45 per cent, transferring all corporate buildings and schools to run on green energy, replacing 47,000 streetlights with LED bulbs, planting thousands of native trees and helping more than 70 community groups to set up green initiatives in their local area.
Simon Tagg, the council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change said: “Sustainability and social value are at the heart of everything we do, and we are proud to have been recognised for our commitment to these important issues.”
The winners of the MJ Awards will be announced at a gala ceremony in June.
