Councillor Tom Hayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon, has won the prestigious LGIU & CCLA Councillor Award in the Environment and Sustainability Pioneer category.
The Councillor Awards are the only ones showcasing the important work of councillors across England and Scotland. Each year, they bring together the best and brightest councillors to celebrate and honour the vital contributions they to their communities. Now, more than ever, the Awards honour councillors who are working tirelessly to keep the country afloat during the pandemic. This marks the 11th year of showcasing their achievements.
“I’m delighted to have won the Environment and Sustainability Pioneer award. Local government is the best place to work with people to achieve change. This award also belongs to the Oxford City Council team that it’s my honour to work with as well as local climate activists, and partners.”
Councillor Tom Hayes, Oxford City Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon
Councillor Tom Hayes
Councillor Hayes was nominated for his work with citizens, communities, and partners in Oxford to create a zero carbon city. In January 2019, the City Council unanimously declared a climate emergency, and since then actions have included:
- Oxford becoming the first UK city to hold a Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change
- the City Council agreeing an initial action plan with more than fifty measures covering buildings, transport, biodiversity, offsetting, and recycling and waste
- launching plans for the proposed Zero Emission Zone in Oxford
- working with partners to bring forward the £41m Energy Super Hub Oxford project.
Councillor Hayes, who was a Fox International Fellow at Yale University, is also Chief Executive of Elmore Community Services, an Oxfordshire-based mental health, complex needs and domestic abuse charity.
Councillor Marie Tidball, Cabinet Member for Supporting Local Communities, was also nominated for this year’s awards in the Covid-19 Hero category for her work alongside City Council officers, residents and charities, to establish Oxford’s Locality Response Hubs at the outset of the pandemic.
"It is a great honour for Oxford City Council that not one, but two of our councillors were shortlisted for these prestigious awards.
"I am delighted that Cllr Tom Hayes won for his work to improve our city's air quality and carbon footprint. I am disappointed that in another very strong field Cllr Marie Tidball didn't win this time. I would like to thank them and council officers for their inspiring hard work on behalf of our city and citizens. We are lucky to have them both. "
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council
The LGIU & CCLA Councillor Awards
LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) is a local authority membership organisation. Its members are councils and other organisations with an interest in local government from across England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Australia.
CCLA manages investments for charities, religious organisations and the public sector. Founded in 1958, it aims to deliver strong long-term returns and has experience in providing ethical and responsible investment to charities.
The LGIU & CCLA Councillor Awards highlight and recognise the work that local councillors do for their communities, especially in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. More than 200 councillors across England and Scotland were nominated for the nine categories at this year’s awards. The winners were decided by a panel of judges, including senior councillors and officers, and were announced at a virtual ceremony on 26 November.
For more information visit the LGIU & CCLA Cllr Awards 2020 website.
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