SIC role a ‘real privilege’ says council leader after national award nomination

SIC leader Emma Macdonald says she is “really surprised” after being nominated for a top national award celebrating the work of councillors.

The Shetland North councillor is up for the leader of the year prize in the Scottish section of this year’s Cllr Awards.

Macdonald is up against Cammy Day of the City of Edinburgh Council and Borders Council’s Euan Jardine.

Responding to the news, Macdonald said on Monday: “Local government is a key part of our democracy and it is a real privilege to be a councillor and be the council leader.

“There are a huge amount of hard working councillors across Scotland, so it is good to see some of them recognised in these awards.”

Macdonald was first elected to Shetland Islands Council in 2017, becoming the depute leader a year later.

In 2022 she was re-elected and won a vote to become council leader – the first female to take on the role in the SIC.

A total of 44 councillors from England, Wales and Scotland have been shortlisted for the Cllr Awards, which are run by LGUI (Local Government Information Unit) and local authority fund manager CCLA. More than 350 nominations were received.

The Scottish winners will be announced at an event in Edinburgh on 14 November.

LGIU chief executive Jonathan Carr-West said: “The judging panel was blown away by the number of extremely high quality nominations this year, with councillors up and down the country going the extra mile for residents.

“The shortlist for the 2024 Cllr Awards contains the most devoted elected representatives in England, Wales and Scotland.

“With councils operating under enormous pressure, these awards are a hugely important way to champion what councillors achieve in the places we live.”