THE best councillors across Scotland were named at an awards ceremony in Edinburgh on Tuesday evening.

The Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) and investment company CCLA dished out the awards to celebrate the vital work of councillors across the country.

The judging panel was made up of a number of senior councillors and leading stakeholders from across the sector.

READ MORE: Grangemouth: Scottish oil refinery to close with hundreds to lose jobs

These are the only national awards to celebrate and showcase the work of individual councillors across Scotland.

The winners were:

  • Community Champion - Cllr Ruairi Kelly – Glasgow City Council – SNP
  • Leader of the Year - Cllr John Alexander – Dundee City Council – SNP
  • Lifetime Legend – Cllr Helen Wright – Dundee City Council – Scottish Labour
  • Resilience Champion – Cllr Heather Woodbridge – Orkney Islands Council – Independent
  • Young Councillor of the Year – Cllr Dan Hutchison – Glasgow City Council – Scottish Greens

Commenting on the awards, Minister for Local Government Empowerment Joe Fitzpatrick said: “As someone who was previously a councillor, I recognise the important role councils play in delivering vital frontline services for our communities.

“Every councillor nominated for these awards exemplifies this spirit of public service and I congratulate them all.

“It is crucial the Scottish Government works in partnership with local government to achieve the best possible outcomes for people.

“This approach, which is built on mutual trust and respect is particularly important as we work to help people through the current cost crisis.”