LYDNEY Town Council has become one of just three across the UK to achieve gold as part of a nationwide ‘quality council’ award.

The town council is the only one in Gloucestershire to achieve the highest grade in the national quality council award scheme.

The accolade comes just three years after the council was censured by the auditor for serious shortcomings in its procedures.

Mayor Cllr Bob Berryman said “Quality gold shows the professionalism of our council and how seriously we take the development of Lydney.

“Everyone is under immense pressure to deliver more for less – if a pound is wasted it can’t be spent on the community. We deserve no less than the best.”

Chief executive Jayne Smailes – whose time in post started after the period covered by the critical report – said quality gold “is more than just making sure every penny is spent wisely.”

“You need to have a convincing strategy for the future development of Lydney.

“The assessors were impressed by both our plan and the dedication of the council to push this forward.

“This is why quality gold is so valuable to the community.”

Along with initiatives such as the neighbourhood development plan, the council is not short of ideas for improving the town, said deputy mayor Cllr Brian Pearman.

He added: “Lydney’s waited too long and improvements can’t come soon enough.

“The more we work with the community the faster change will come.”

Town, district and county councillor Alan Preest added, “I would like to express how delighted I am that Lydney Town Council’s efforts, its adherence to financial and procedural governance and its desire to promote community engagement and neighbourhood planning has been officially recognised by its attainment of quality gold status.

This demonstrates the on-going commitment shown by all town council employees and its town councillors. 

“I would especially like to thank and acknowledge our CEO Jayne Smailes’ contribution as without her experience, professionalism  and commitment towards continued council and service improvement and councillor-employee development, we would not have attained this prestigious award.”

Alison Robinson, of the Gloucestershire Association of Parish and Town Councils said: “Attainment of this award means Lydney Town Council meets exceptional standards and goes the extra mile for the community in terms of community engagement, innovation, effective leadership and delivering best practice.

“It is recognition of the hard work that the council undertakes in Lydney.”