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Cork City Council named Local Authority of the Year

ELG2021-Badge-Winner-web

18th November 2021.

Cork City Council is delighted to have been named Local Authority of the Year in the annual Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards 2021 for its “creativity and determination” in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Cork City Council received another three awards for individual projects that it delivered in the city last year. Another nine projects from Cork City Council made up the total of 90 projects that were shortlisted from local authorities around the country.

 

Lord Mayor, Cllr Colm Kelleher said: “As noted by Chambers Ireland, Cork City Council really went ‘above and beyond’ in their response to Covid and delivered some exceptionally innovative projects to help support communities and business. I warmly congratulate Ann Doherty and her hardworking staff”.

 

Chief Executive Ann Doherty said: “I am honoured and humbled to lead my colleagues here in Cork City Council who embody public service at its very best. In face of the ongoing challenge that is Covid-19, Cork City Council staff have demonstrated flexibility, innovation, and a continued desire to work with others for the benefit of the residents, businesses and visitors to Cork. As a result, enduring benefits and competencies have been developed in the way we work and deliver our services and Cork’s shift to growing as a city of sustainable urban growth has been accelerated to the benefit of all”.

 

The Excellence in Local Government Awards 2021 (ELG Awards), sponsored by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, are held to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work being carried out by local authorities all over Ireland.

 

Cork City Council’s three individual winning projects were:

 

  • Sports on the Green in the Health & Wellbeing category.

 

With sports curtailed due to public health restrictions, it became apparent that young people, particularly those at risk, were struggling with their mental and physical health. Located in local housing estates, ‘Sports on the Green’ allowed youths try new sports on their doorstep and thereby promoted physical activity, wellbeing, and resilience at a local level. It also removed barriers like cost, time and transport. The scheme was led by Cork City Council, in partnership with multiple stakeholders such as such as Cork Sports Partnership (CSP), National Governing Bodies (NGB), sports clubs, residents’ associations, and Community Gardaí.

 

  • Re-Opening a More Resilient Cork City Centre in the Enhancing the Urban Environment category.

 

The aim was to make the city centre more inclusive, safer and a pleasant place and experience for residents, shoppers and visitors while supporting local business and culture. This involved, at its core, a major infrastructure realignment to permanently pedestrianise 17 streets to make the city centre more people friendly and greener.

It delivered:

  • Pedestrianisation interventions on 17 streets
  • New bike parking facilities at 50 locations (city wide)
  • Extended street furniture licenses including winter proofing.
  • Enhanced cycling infrastructure (bollards, new cycle lanes etc.)
  • Urban parklets – new community interaction spaces which helped ‘green’ the city
  • Temporary footpath extensions to facilitate access.
  • City Centre branding initiative – friendly & welcoming signage

Last year’s initial programme was an inspiration to other cities and Cork is moving to the next stage, permanently transforming the space and quality of urban life in the city.

 

 

Infill Housing Conservation Project, 5-6 Shandon Street & John Philpott Curran Street in the Heritage & Built Environment category.

 

Cork City Council restored two 18th Century derelict town houses on the corner of Shandon Street and John Philpott Curran Street and infilled a site on the corner of John Philpott Curran Street and Cathedral Avenue  to provide 9 sheltered housing apartments. This project transformed the identity of an urban block in the historic Shandon quarter of the City from dereliction to active, fully habitable, efficient accommodation for use by elderly members of the local community.

 

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