Shetland Islands Council has won an national award, recognising the achievements of the Council’s Fleet Management team for transport operations and vehicle maintenance.
At the APSE Performance Networks Awards evening last Thursday, Shetland Islands Council won the category of “Most Improved Performer - Transport Operations & Vehicle Maintenance”.
The Council’s award recognises the performance strengths of the Fleet Management, which include a high level of training and qualifications among staff, the quick turnaround of vehicle servicing, and the excellent record of fleet vehicles passing Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) tests first time. Also recognised is the low number of motor vehicle accidents and cost efficiencies for vehicle maintenance, despite some of the supply chain challenges faced in Shetland.
The Fleet Management team maintain and service over 380 vehicles operated by the Council. The range of vehicles includes gritters, essy kerts, and street cleansing vehicles, wheelchair accessible buses, cars, 4x4s and a range of specialist heavy plant machinery.
The APSE Awards Event event took place at the Village Hotel, Blackpool and was attended by Raymond Murchison, Team Leader – Fleet, who picked up the trophy on behalf of the Council and his colleagues.
Five other councils were also shortlisted in the same category - Aberdeenshire Council, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Moray Council, North Ayrshire Council and Plymouth City Council.
At the same awards ceremony, Shetland Islands Council’s Building Maintenance Team were also shortlisted in the “Best Performer – Building Maintenance.”
The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) is a membership organisation of local authorities across the UK, which seeks to promotes excellence in the delivery of frontline services to local communities.
Carl Symons, Executive Manager – Environment and Estate Operations, said: “I’m delighted that our Fleet staff have been recognised with this award. They work hard to maintain the Council’s vehicle fleet to ensure that we can deliver public services in Shetland year-round. They’ve also demonstrated efficiencies, which is commendable in the current climate of budget pressures facing the public sector.”
For the full shortlist and category winners, please look up the APSE website