Charlotte Vernon, is a councillor and Deputy Chair of the Conservative Councillors’ Association.
It is no secret that local councillors often take more than their fair share of criticism.
From potholes and planning disputes to bin collections and traffic woes, their work rarely makes headlines except when something goes wrong. Yet, for all the flak they receive, councillors are the lifeblood of our democracy, the bridge between communities and government. And the recent Conservative Councillors’ Association Awards (CCA Awards) provided a timely reminder of just how vital their role is.
The CCA Awards, are to celebrate the dedication, innovation, and sheer hard work of local councillors up and down the country. This is the inaugural year of these awards, and the Awards ceremony held at Party Conference highlighted the amazing work that our Conservative Councillors are doing every day, from environmental initiatives and youth engagement projects to extraordinary acts of public service during crises. It was a night that underscored a simple truth: local democracy is not an abstract concept – it is tangible, personal, and profoundly important.
Take, for example, Cllr Doc Anand of Newcastle City Council who won the coveted Campaigner of The Year Award. When people wanted the orange bollards on Gosforth High Street removed, he didn’t just talk… he put on a traffic-cone costume, knocked on doors, and gathered nearly a thousand signatures! Potholes, graffiti and his commitment to the community that he served for decades as a GP prior to being elected as a Councillor, Cllr Anand was the first Conservative local Councillor to be elected in 32 years and stories like this are a powerful reminder that while Westminster often dominates headlines, the real heart of politics is beating in council chambers across the nation.
The New Councillor of the Year award was awarded to Cllr Sebastian James of Worcestershire County Council who was elected in May of this year. Whilst still very much getting to know the demands and role of being a councillor, Cllr James is already featuring in his local press, projecting his residents voices and ensuring that injustices are called out. Clearly embracing and relishing his role, Cllr James is a fantastic role model for new councillors.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was won by Cllr Tim Hall of Surrey County Council. With over 40 years’ service to his local community, Cllr Hall has been a District and County Councillor and is currently Chairman of Surrey County Council. He has demonstrated an absolute commitment to ensuring the lives of those in his area are served well through his outstanding awareness of local issues and his local knowledge.
Lastly, but by no means least, Cllr Lynette Sullivan was announced as the Councillor of the Year. Sitting on Hertsmere Borough Council, she was elected in 2023 and made Conservative Group Leader in 2024. One of the most challenging aspects of being in a Leadership role can be to balance strategic leadership with hands-on representation, and Cllr Sullivan has done this brilliantly, setting up initiatives locally such as the Area Planning Forum and actively addressing vital local concerns in areas including public transport improvements and supporting vulnerable children.
Our awards also serve another crucial purpose: morale.
Councillors often operate in near anonymity, juggling committees, public meetings, and endless constituent queries, all while facing intense scrutiny from local media and the public alike. Recognition at the CCA Awards is more than a pat on the back – it is validation that their efforts are noticed and appreciated.
Of course, celebrating councillors does not mean holding them above scrutiny but in an age where local government is increasingly under pressure, the CCA Awards remind us that good local governance matters. It fosters communities, empowers citizens, and most importantly demonstrates that democracy at its most immediate level is alive, well, and worth celebrating.
In a political culture that too often focuses on the national over the local, the CCA Awards make one thing crystal clear: councillors may take flak, but their work shapes our daily lives in ways that Westminster cannot. And for that, they deserve our attention, respect, and applause.
Award Winners
Campaigner of the Year
Winner – Doc Anand
Special Commendation – Alex Clarkson, Johno Lee, James Plumb & Craig Smith
New Councillor of the Year
Winner – Sebastian James
Special Commendation – Will Calverley & Alexander Rafiq
Lifetime Achievement
Winner – Tim Hall
Special Commendation – Anthony Young & Vera Dale
Councillor of the Year
Winner – Lynette Sullivan
Special Commendation – Jose Alfonso, Nicholas Chapman & Connor Donnithorne.
