WELLINGTON Town Council missed out on the title of ‘Council of the Year’ in this week’s National Association of Local Councils 2023 awards.

The town’s deputy mayor Cllr Catherine Govier attended a presentation event held in the House of Lords on Wednesday (November 29) after Wellington was one of five shortlisted for the honour.

However, the award went instead to Braunstone Town Council, in Leicestershire.

The Wellington council was nominated after a year in which it came to prominence for its progressive approach to organising and supporting community events and groups, delivering local services, and protecting green spaces.

The council has taken effective ownership of 62.5 acres of open land at The Basins, provided the finance for the town’s carnival to be revived, agreed long-term funding deals with organisations such as Citizen’s Advice, and started talks on taking over services such as street cleaning and some highways maintenance work.

Cllr Govier, who received a framed certificate to commemorate Wellington being a finalist, said she was disappointed but honoured to represent the town at the ceremony.

Local MP Rebecca Pow met Cllr Govier after the reception and congratulated the council on being one of the runners-up.

Wellington Mayor Cllr Marcus Barr said he was ‘tremendously proud’ of the way the town council's work had been recognised nationally.

Cllr Barr said: “It is a reward for the whole council, our brilliant staff led by our clerk Dave Farrow, and our forward-thinking councillors.

“I know we all feel so proud to able to represent and work for the whole community to improve things for everybody.

“Wellington is a great place to live and we should also thank the community for the support they show us and how they turn up to attend events like our Christmas lights switch-on in their thousands.

“We have so much community spirit here in Wellington that is no wonder national organisations are looking at what we do and how we do it.”