Tameside praised for recession-busting ideas

Date published: 05 March 2010

Tameside Council has won national recognition for its proactive efforts to safeguard local jobs and businesses in the recession.

The council has been named winner of a Local Innovation Award for “building economic resilience” and will now be sharing its ideas to lead improvement across the country.

The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) singled out Tameside for its robust response to the economic downturn with the creation of pioneering initiatives such as Tameside Works First, where the council has worked with its partners to promote the direct commissioning of work to local businesses.

Judges were also impressed with the success of the borough’s Buy With Confidence scheme which encourages residents to use accredited local trades people.

Tameside’s award submission also included the council’s and its partners’ efforts to promptly pay small to medium businesses to ease cash flow as well as work to develop skills and employment opportunities and the creation of the Tameside Business Family to support local enterprise.

Tameside Council Leader Cllr Roy Oldham said: “It's pleasing to receive this recognition but by no means are we complacent. Tameside Council and our partners remain committed to supporting local businesses and the council budget for the upcoming year is one of hope, growth and strength with strategies in place to continue protecting the local economy.

"We are looking forward to having the opportunity to share what we have learned to help initiate similar improvement programmes across the country."

Chair of the LGA Improvement Board, Cllr David Parsons said: "Councils and their partners are under increasing pressure to do more for less and come up with new ways of providing innovative and top quality services - in a way that the public wants. This is an exciting time and the winners of the Local Innovation Awards now have a role to challenge, coach, and guide others; and in doing so to both explore and shape a new improvement landscape."

Local Government Minister Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP said: “The winners of the Local Innovation Awards 2010 are fantastic examples of how councils and their partners can come up with imaginative ideas for providing effective services in a tough economic climate

“We set out to find the best and brightest ideas in the delivery of local services and the standard of entries from across the country was very high. The winners had to be creative, innovative and responsive to local problems and needs in their areas. Each winner proved to us that by thinking innovatively they could improve people’s lives with efficient and high quality services.”