Over 100 Local Authority Local Land Charges Officers who carry out land and property searches required for conveyancing transactions, attended the 17th Land Data Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence gala dinner in Derby on 4 March, hosted by comedian Markus Birdman.
The national awards recognise the work and achievements of Local Land Charges departments in England and Wales. For this year’s awards Land Data received 169 entries and nominations across seven categories from solicitors, licensed conveyancers, customer services experts and Local Land Charges personnel. The award winners were drawn from a shortlist of 84 Local Authority teams and individuals, from 69 Local Authorities.
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:
- Customer Satisfaction for Local Authority Searches
- Local Authority Searches Team of the Year
- The Best Performing Search Team Member
- The Best Performing NLIS Local Land Charges Department Level 2
- The Best Performing NLIS Local Land Charges Department Level 3
- The Best Performing Migrated Local Authority
- The Unsung Hero
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: “Our 2024 award-winners and shortlisted councils have all shown great tenacity and dedication, ensuring their residents can move home as quickly and smoothly as possible. In a role which is too often taken for granted, they have used initiative, creativity and perseverance to find new efficiencies, better solutions and more opportunities to add value.
“Like many professions, Local Land Charges is in a phase of transition, from locally-managed Local Land Charges Registers, to HM Land Registry’s central Register. From paper-based information, to digitisation. All this against a backdrop of financial cut-backs for many councils.
“It is incredibly important to celebrate success during these times of change and I am delighted to see so much talent, achievement and positivity in the 2024 Excellence Awards.”
The 2024 Award winners are:
- Customer Satisfaction Award for Local Authority Searches – supported by the The Coal Authority
District Councils
Winner: West Devon Borough Council
Highly commended: Arun District Council
Metropolitan District Councils
Winner: Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Highly commended: Wakefield Council
Unitary Councils
Winner: Swansea Council
Highly commended: Medway Council
London Borough Councils
Winner: Barnet London Borough Council
Highly Commended: Hillingdon London Borough Council
- Local Land Authority Searches Team of the Year – supported by the Local Land Charges Institute
Winner: Leicester City Council
Highly commended: Castle Point District Council
- Best Performing Search Team Member – supported by SearchFlow
Winner: Evie Ward from Watford Borough Council
Highly Commended: Michaela Salter from Cotswold District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council, Forest of Dean District Council
- Best Performing NLIS Level 2 Local Land Charges Department – supported by the National Land Information Service (NLIS)
Winner: North Devon District Council
Highly commended: Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
- Best Performing NLIS Level 3 Local Land Charges Department – supported by the National Land Information Service (NLIS)
Winner: Westminster City Council
Highly commended: Cardiff Council
- Best Performing Migrated Local Authority – supported by HM Land Registry
Winner: West Suffolk District Council
Highly commended: Harborough District Council
- The Unsung Hero Award – supported by the National Land Information Service (NLIS) Hub
Winner: Denise Durham from Barnet London Borough Council
Highly commended: LLC team at Westminster City Council
