HOUNSLOW Council has been shortlisted for the Local Authority of the Year award.

The Council has also been shortlisted for awards recognising its leadership in response to the climate emergency and its transformation of the workplace.

The Council has also been commended for its work in tackling digital inclusivity throughout the borough.

The MJ awards aim to celebrate, recognise and promote excellence in the public sector, and are a chance for local authorities to be commended for their ingenuity in delivering services to their respective borough.

Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council, said being shortlisted was a huge honour after many months of hard work throughout a difficult year.

He said: "As we started 2020, Hounslow had one of the UK's fastest-growing economies and we had huge ambitions for the Council itself and for the borough.

"At the beginning of this year, we were heading into the third national lockdown and facing some of the harshest economic impacts in the country.

"I'm really proud of the way everyone at Hounslow Council pulled together to support our borough and lead the way out of the crisis.

"Central to our approach has been identifying every opportunity to bring residents, businesses, community groups and public sector partners together as One Hounslow.

"No Council can do alone all that needs to be done to recover after coronavirus, so we think it's about helping to shape the future by leading the whole community along the path of recovery.

"We've taken the same approach with our Green Recovery work.

"Dozens of partners from the world of business, academia and beyond came together to co-design a plan to tackle climate change, grow the green economy and jobs, and set out solutions for green transport and low-carbon communities.

"If the way the community came together during COVID is anything to go by, I feel very optimistic about the way the borough is coming together again to deliver a recovery that serves the needs of all our residents."

The results of the winners will be announced in September.