Dumfries and Galloway Council team shortlisted for award for work on community asset transfers

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The region’s Thriving Communities team has been shortlisted for a national award for their work involving community asset transfers.

Dumfries and Galloway Council’s team reached the finals of the COSLA awards after giving a presentation of its work to a panel of national experts.

They will find out if they have won at the COSLA Awards which take place in Edinburgh on September 19. Councillor Gail Macgregor, leader of the council, said: “I’m delighted that the work on community asset transfers has been recognised at this national level. “To be one of just three finalists in this category and 15 over all the categories proves just how good our arrangements are and what local people have achieved. “Although I’m not one of the judges, I know through my work as a COSLA spokesperson that you really have to have something special to stand out from across all 32 councils, so my congratulations and thank you to everyone involved. “This could not have been achieved without genuine partnership working from almost 100 groups and organisations over the last seven years. “All councillors have taken an active interest in the transfers being progressed in their ward and there’s many different council services who work together to make these transfers happen.” Selected as one of just three finalists in the COSLA Local Government Excellence Awards for Strengthening Communities and Local Democracy, officers from across the region showcased the amazing transformations that community groups have achieved over the last seven years.

Those include a Pilgrim bunkhouse and heritage exhibition in Whithorn, a planetarium and gin distillery in Kirkcudbright, eco-housing in Closeburn and a playpark in Annan.