Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence 2020 Finalists Revealed!

Land Data, the National Land Information Service (NLIS) regulator, has today revealed the shortlist of finalists for their upcoming 2020 Land Data Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence.  After weeks of deliberation involving judges from HMLR, the Law Society, The Coal Authority, the Local Land Charges Institute, NLIS and Land Data, the shortlist is now finalised.  Over 200 entries and nominations naming 73 local authorities were submitted by solicitors, conveyancers, customer service experts and local land charges personnel.

Since their launch in 2008, the annual Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence, are the only national awards celebrating the achievements and successes of Local Authority Local Land Charges departments across England and Wales during the past year.

This year’s shortlist is made up of 54 local authority teams and 9 individuals who have all demonstrated excellence, enthusiasm and willingness to adapt and improve in a tough and uncertain market.

The sponsors and judging panel are chosen for their independence, expertise and objectivity. The winners and those highly commended in each category will be announced at an awards dinner on 2nd March 2020 in Birmingham, around 150 local authorities are expected to attend.

The categories are:

• Customer Satisfaction Award for Local Authority searches, sponsored by the Coal Authority
• Most Improved NLIS services, sponsored by Land Data
• Best Performing NLIS Local Land Charges Department (level 2 & level 3), sponsored by NLIS Hub
• Best Customer Experience Award, sponsored by SearchFlow
• The Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by the NLIS Hub Helpdesk
• The Local Authority Searches Team of the Year sponsored by the Local Land Charges Institute
• The Digital Data Award, sponsored by Land Data

Jan Boothroyd, Chief Executive of Land Data, comments: “The purpose of our Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence is to encourage and highlight best practice and excellence in Local Land Charges across England and Wales. I’d like to thank the judging panel and everyone who has entered or submitted a nomination for an award.  We’ve enjoyed reading the positive comments from solicitors who applaud those local authorities going above and beyond to deliver an excellent customer service, as well as noting the detail behind the digital data projects being carried out alongside the day to day work in local authorities. These projects will help transform local land charges and other service areas, by enhancing digital service delivery over the years to come.”

 The shortlisted local authorities and individuals (listed alphabetically):

Customer Satisfaction for Local Authority Searches – sponsored by the Coal Authority

•  Arun District Council
• East Suffolk Council 
• Harrow London Borough Council
• Monmouthshire County Council 
• Newham London Borough Council
• Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
• South Northamptonshire Council
• Waltham Forest London Borough Council
• Westminster City Council
• West Devon Borough Council

Most Improved NLIS (National Land Information Service) services - sponsored by Land Data

• Aylesbury Vale District Council
• Bristol City Council
• Cheshire East Council
• Copeland Borough Council
• East Lindsey District Council
• South Bucks District Council
• South Northamptonshire Council
• Test Valley Borough Council
• Wandsworth London Borough Council
• Wokingham Borough Council
• Wyre Forest District Council

Best Performing NLIS Level 3 Local Land Charges Department – sponsored by the NLIS Hub

• Arun District Council
• Bolton Council
• Cardiff Council
• Chorley Council
• City of York Council
• Crawley Borough Council
• Dartford Borough Council
• Elmbridge Borough Council
• Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
• Wirral Metropolitan District Council

Best Performing NLIS Level 2 Local Land Charges Department – sponsored by the NLIS Hub

• Bromley London Borough Council
• Ealing London Borough Council
• Gateshead Council
• Lambeth London Borough Council
• Manchester City Council
• Newham London Borough Council
• North Devon Council
• Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
• Spelthorne Borough Council
• Warrington Borough Council
• Waltham Forest London Borough Council

Best Customer Experience Award - sponsored by SearchFlow

• Arun District Council
• Barnet London Borough Council
• Blaby District Council
• Ceredigion County Council
• Cheshire East Council
• Exeter City Council
• Havering London Borough Council
• Preston City Council
• South Northamptonshire Council

Unsung Hero Award - sponsored by the NLIS Hub Helpdesk Team

• Hayley Ayris, Havering London Borough Council
• Simon Brazil, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
• Robert Daniels, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
• Ann Doswell, New Forest District Council
• Denise Durham, Barnet London Borough Council
• Trish Fitzpatrick & Lisa Roberts, Telford & Wrekin Council
• Jackie Johnson, Gwynedd Council
• Sam Orsini, Newham London Borough Council
• Beverley Reid, Hammersmith & Fulham London Borough Council
• The LLC Team at Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
• The LLC Team at Mendip District Council

The Digital Data award - sponsored by Land Data

• Havering London Borough Council
• Mid Devon District Council
• Monmouthshire County Council
• Selby District Council
• Waltham Forest London Borough Council
• Wellingborough Borough Council

Local Authority Searches Team of the Year Award -  sponsored by the Local Land Charges Institute

• Arun District Council
• Ashfield District Council
• Blaby District Council
• Ceredigion County Council
• Havering London Borough Council
• Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
• Rushmoor Borough Council
• Selby District Council
• Somerset West & Taunton Council
• Stoke-on-Trent City Council
• Waltham Forest London Borough Council
• Wealden District Council