By Legal Futures Associate Land Data
Over 120 local authority Local Land Charges Officers who carry out land and property searches required for conveyancing transactions, attended the 16th Land Data Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence gala dinner last night in Bristol, hosted by comedian Dominic Holland.
The national awards recognise the work and achievements of Local Land Charges departments in England and Wales. More than 250 entries and nominations naming over 100 local authorities were submitted by solicitors, licensed conveyancers, customer services experts and Local Land Charges Personnel. The finalists were drawn from a shortlist of 46 local authority teams and 18 individuals.
The Awards, which are supported by the Local Land Charges Institute, SearchFlow, The Coal Authority, HM Land Registry, Land Data and the National Land Information Service (NLIS), cover seven categories recognising customer satisfaction, best newcomer, best performing NLIS Local Land Charges department, best performing migrated Local Authority, the Unsung Hero, and the Local Authority searches team of the year.
A winner and a highly commended for each category were chosen by a panel of judges from The Coal Authority, HM Land Registry, the Law Society, Land Data, the Local Land Charges Institute and the National Land Information Service (NLIS).
Fiona Barron, Land Data’s Chief Executive, commented: “The 2023 Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence was once again a fantastic platform for acknowledging excellence and innovation in the profession. Local Land Charge teams, like most sectors, adapted many of their working practices during the COVID pandemic. Far from ‘getting back to normal’, this year’s entries have shown how the changes initiated by COVID have been the catalyst for continued improvements, greater efficiencies and new ways of working. All the finalists are very worthy and deserving winners!”
Winners and Highly Commended Local Authorities celebrate their success at the 2023 Land Data Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence in Bristol.
The 2023 Award winners are:
- Customer Satisfaction Award for Local Authority Searches – supported by the The Coal Authority
District Councils
Winner: Arun District Council
Highly commended: West Devon Borough Council
Metroplitan District Councils
Winner: Gateshead Metropolitan District Council
Highly commended: Dudley Metropolitan District Council
London Borough Councils
Winner: London Borough of Hillingdon
Highly Commended: London Borough of Barnet
- Local Land Authority Searches Team of the Year – supported by the Local Land Charges Institute
Winner: West Lindsey District Council
Highly commended: Buckinghamshire Council
- Best Newcomer – supported by SearchFlow
Winner: Claire Sharman from Ashfield District Council
Highly Commended: Karen Garner from Arun District Council
- Best Performing NLIS Level 2 Local Land Charges Department – supported by the National Land Information Service (NLIS)
Winner: London Borough of Lambeth
Highly commended: London Borough of Bromley
- Best Performing NLIS Level 3 Local Land Charges Department – supported by the National Land Information Service (NLIS)
Winner: City of York Council
Highly commended: London Borough of Sutton
- Best Performing Migrated Local Authority – supported by HM Land Registry
Winner: Isle of Wight Council
Highly commended: Mid Suffolk Council
- The Unsung Hero Award – supported by the National Land Information Service (NLIS) Hub
Winner: Anita Tunnicliffe, Stoke-on-Trent Council City Council
Highly commended: Sumitra Chudasama from London Borough of Brent
