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Shortlists for top Local Land Charges teams in England and Wales announced ahead of 2026 Land Data Awards for Excellence   

  • Writer: Leanne Crook
    Leanne Crook
  • 23 hours ago
  • 5 min read

Local Land Charges (LLC) teams have been recognised in 8 shortlists for the annual Land Data Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence, the only awards to recognise outstanding performance in the profession. The winning and highly commended local authorities will be announced on the 22nd and 23rd April at the virtual Local Land Charges Training and Development Event 2026.  


The awards celebrate a range of performance areas and skill sets, from Local Authority Searches Team of the Year, which is entered online by LLC teams themselves and assessed by the awards judging panel, to the new Best Migrated Local Authority which is judged by HM Land Registry using live data from its platform. 


Fiona Barron, Land Data’s Chief Executive, and one of the award judges said:  

"I’m delighted to celebrate local land charges teams with these awards for excellence.  They have an essential role in the home buying and selling process, maintaining and managing the information consumers and lenders rely on to make the right home buying decisions. Highlighting the value and achievements of these expert teams is important for their own profile and morale, and for the wider home buying and selling market.”  



THE SHORTLISTS 


PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN LISTED ALPHABETICALLY 



Best Migrated Local Authority

Awarded by HM Land Registry 


This award is for Local Authorities who have already migrated their Local Land Charges Register to HM Land Registry. It celebrates outstanding management of the Register and good communication with HM Land Registry, helping property buyers to achieve the best outcomes. The judges use live data from the HM Land Registry platform to rank LLC departments based on key performance criteria, including time taken to register new charges and accuracy of entries. The judges analysed data from Local Authorities who have been in live service for at least 6 months, during the period 1st February 2025 - 31st January 2026. 


  • Bassetlaw District Council 

  • Bedford Borough Council 

  • Broxtowe Borough Council 

  • Dover District Council 

  • Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council 

  • North Kesteven District Council 

  • Rutland County Council 

  • Sutton London Borough Council  

  • West Suffolk Council  

  • Wychavon District Council 

 

 

Best Performing Searches Team Member

Awarded by SearchFlow 


This award recognises outstanding staff members who have gone above and beyond expectations, showing diligence, creativity, proactivity and great teamworking skills.  


  • Agi Davey, Arun District Council 

  • Dominic Heaps, St Helens Borough Council 

  • Francesca D'auria, Swansea Council 

  • Gil Tomblin, North Norfolk District Council 

  • Lea Appleyard, Spelthorne Borough Council 

  • Marta Yeo, Somerset Council 

  • Melanie Fry, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council 

  • Michelle Foreman, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council  

  • Pat Smith, Islington London Borough Council 

 

 

Customer Satisfaction Award for Local Authority Searches

Awarded by The Mining Remediation Authority


For this category, there are four separate awards - one for District Councils, one for Metropolitan Councils, one for London Boroughs and one for Unitary Councils. Land Data asks solicitors, licensed conveyancers and personal search companies to nominate and provide feedback on the Local Authority LLC teams that they believe are committed to delivering a consistently high level of customer service. Voters are asked to consider speed, accuracy, helpfulness and issue resolution.  


  • Arun District Council 

  • Barnet London Borough Council 

  • Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council 

  • East Suffolk District Council 

  • Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council 

  • Hillingdon London Borough Council 

  • Huntingdonshire District Council 

  • Reigate & Banstead Borough Council 

  • Somerset Council - East Team 

  • South Norfolk District Council 


 

Local Authority Searches Team of the Year

Awarded by the Local Land Charges Institute


This team Award recognises the hard work and dedication made by Local Land Charges teams. The criteria focus on how teams have worked collaboratively to overcome challenges, become more efficient, and deliver excellent customer service. 


  • Braintree District Council   

  • Ceredigion County Council   

  • Dorset Council   

  • Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council   

  • Greater Cambridge Planning Service   

  • Havering London Borough Council   

  • Hillingdon London Borough Council 

  • Isle of Wight Council 

  • Milton Keynes City Council 

  • Somerset Council 

 

 

The Unsung Hero Award

Awarded by the National Land Information Service (NLIS) Hub


The Unsung Hero Award is voted for by the NLIS Hub helpdesk team which nominates an individual or a team that they feel consistently makes an extra effort to work with them to make the search process as seamless as possible. The helpdesk team will give examples of how the Local Land Charges team (or a person within the team) shines and impresses them. 


  • Amy Terry, Chelmsford City Council 

  • Anita Tunicliffe, Stoke-on-Trent City Council 

  • Becca Empringham-Green, South Cambridgeshire District Council 

  • Gabriella King, Ashford Borough Council 

  • Gemma Garden, Bournemouth Christchurch Pool Council 

  • Jacqui Ryan, Runnymede Borough Council 

  • Jaki Molyneux, Trafford Borough Council 

  • Jamie Dean, Wiltshire Council 

  • Kim Prescott, Medway Council 

  • Sherelle Frederick, Waltham Forest London Borough Council 

  • Steven Greenwood-Smyth, Watford Borough Council 

 

 

 

Best Performing NLIS Level 2 Local Land Charges Department Awarded by the National Land Information Service (NLIS)


This award category recognises the best performing Local Land Charges Department operating at NLIS level 2, between October 1st 2024, and September 30th 2025. Judges use NLIS Hub data to determine electronic turnaround times, the level of overdue searches, search accuracy and volumes, which are weighted against transactional volumes for the authority's area. 


  • Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council 

  • Bolton Borough Council 

  • Burnley Borough Council 

  • Lambeth London Borough Council 

  • North Devon District Council  

  • Rutland County Council 

  • Spelthorne Borough Council 

  • Stockport Borough Council 

  • West Berkshire District Council 

  • West Lindsey District Council 

 

 

Best Performing NLIS Level 3 Local Land Charges Department Awarded by the National Land Information Service (NLIS)


This award category recognises the best performing Local Land Charges Department operating at NLIS level 3, between October 1st 2024 and September 30th 2025. Judges use NLIS Hub data to determine electronic turnaround times, the level of overdue searches, search accuracy and volumes, which are weighted against transactional volumes for the authority's area. 


  • Brighton & Hove Council 

  • Cardiff County Council 

  • Chorley Borough Council 

  • Dartford Borough Council 

  • Hammersmith & Fulham London Borough Council 

  • Haringey London Borough Council 

  • Sutton London Borough Council 

  • West Suffolk Council 

  • Westminster City Council 

  • York City Council 

 


The Boothroyd Outstanding Contribution Awards

Awarded by Land Data 


This award takes its lead from the late Jan Boothroyd, an inspirational woman who dedicated her career to Local Land Charges and led Land Data for 12 years before losing her battle to cancer in 2024.  Supported by Land Data, this award encourages nominations for exceptional individuals who are doing more than the day job – they are committed to making a real difference in Local Land Charges. 


  • Chrissie Warn, Greater Cambridge Planning Service  

  • Elaine Munns, West Sussex County Council 

  • Robert Bates, North Devon Council 

  • Val Seaborn, Central Bedfordshire Council 

 

 

 
 
 
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