Top Performing Services
09/12/2009
Two of Copeland’s services are amongst the best in the country, according to the Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE).
At the APSE Service Awards, which took place on Thursday, Copeland’s parks team was announced as the best performer for parks services in the UK, following an intensive two week assessment process.
Whitehaven Sports Centre, which is owned by Copeland Borough Council, and managed by North Country Leisure, was short-listed for the best and most improved performer for sports and leisure facility management.
This is the second consecutive year that Copeland’s parks team has been assessed as the best in the country – which itself is a rare honour.
Councillor Allan Holliday, portfolio holder for parks said, “Well done to everybody involved in these two awards. The nominations and successes show that Copeland Council and our partners take excellent service seriously, and are delivering this. For the parks team to be winners two years in a row is a truly tremendous and unprecedented achievement. Each and every one of the team can rightly be proud of this success.”
Councillor Hugh Branney, portfolio holder for leisure and cultural services and North Country Leisure Board Member said, “I am pleased that our partnership with North Country Leisure is continuing to prove a success. The sports and leisure facilities that they are providing really are excellent, and their nomination for this Award confirms this. We’re keen to provide excellent leisure and cultural facilities for all, and working with North Country Leisure helps us to be able to do an even better job of this.”
Copeland parks team beat off challenges from other, much larger organisations:
Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Conway District Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Fife Council, Halton Borough Council and North Lanarkshire Council.
The assessors, who had previously commended on the parks team’s success at meeting their key performance indicators and high quality service delivery this year focussed on the low service costs that the team deliver.
Copeland Borough Council transferred its leisure facilities to North Country Leisure in April 2006. North Country Leisure manage Whitehaven Sports Centre, Whitehaven Civic Hall, Copeland Bowls and Sports Centre and Copeland Swimming Pool on behalf of the council.
Peter Johnstone, Chairman of the Board of North Country Leisure Copeland, said, “Being nominated for this award is an important achievement for us and demonstrates national recognition of the high level of service we aim to offer to all of our customers. Added to the nomination we received last year for an APSE Award at Copeland Swimming Pool, we are proud of the range of facilities we have on offer in Copeland and hope people continue to enjoy using them in the future.”
The APSE Awards ceremony took place in Blackpool on Thursday evening. The Awards were presented by Flavia Cacace of Strictly Come Dancing fame.
Carlisle City Council was the only other Cumbrian authority nominated for an Award.
