A North Lincolnshire councillor who sadly died earlier this year has been nominated for a prestigious national councillor award.
Labour‘s Steve Swift was taken ill mid-speech during the council’s budget meeting in February. He died in early March.
He has been announced as a nominee for the only national awards that recognises the work of individual councillors. Steve Swift has been shortlisted in the 2024 LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) and CCLA annual Cllr Awards for ‘Lifetime Legend’. The category has five shortlisted nominees in total.
Steve Swift, known as ‘Swifty’ to many, served on North Lincolnshire Council from 1996 and was part of Humberside County Council before that. He was also a former mayor of Bottesford Town Council.
Labour opposition group leader Cllr Len Foster nominated his former Brumby Ward co-colleague. “I nominated Steve with the Labour Group’s total support,” he said, adding that a small number of Labour members and a member of Steve Swift’s family will attend the awards ceremony. “To make the shortlist is an achievement on its own and a mark of respect that Steve was held across the local government community, we live in hope of a fruitful outcome.”
Scunthorpe’s MP Sir Nic Dakin has also paid tribute to the former councillor. “Steve’s passion for North Lincolnshire was infectious. He played a huge part in the leadership of our area. It is a great tribute to him and his work on our area’s behalf that he has been shortlisted for this lifetime achievement award.”
In a summary of his shortlisting, the LGIU state he worked tirelessly to improve residents’ lives. “His breadth of knowledge was second to none and he led three major political boundary reviews. His nomination form said Cllr Swift was respected by everyone he came into contact with, regardless of position or political persuasion.”
LGIU chief executive Jonathan Carr-West said: “The shortlist for the 2024 Cllr Awards represents some of the most devoted elected representatives in England, Wales and Scotland. With councils working under enormous pressure, these Awards are a hugely important way to champion what councillors achieve for the places we live.”
Winners will be announced on November 20 at the Guildhall, London. There were more than 350 entries across the five award categories. Steve Swift was the only shortlisted entry from Humberside region.
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Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
