COLCHESTER Council’s road sweepers and litter pickers could be in line for a public sector award later this year.

The Association for Public Sector Excellence has announced Colchester Council is in the running for the Best Service: Team Street Cleaning and Streetscene Service Award for 2023.

The APSE, which will hand out the award in September, recognises the contributions of council frontline services to communities, and now the council’s neighbourhood team is hoping it will receive national recognition.

As well as keeping streets tidy, Colchester Council’s neighbourhood team plays a key role in preventing fly-tipping, removing graffiti, and emptying public bins.

Martin Goss, the council’s portfolio holder for neighbourhood services and waste, said it was fantastic to see the team’s efforts recognised.

“The work of Colchester’s Neighbourhood team provides vital and valued services for the community and it’s fantastic this work has been recognised and shortlisted in this prestigious public sector awards category. 

“I know that our front-line staff take an enormous amount of pride in their work and this news is a well-deserved recognition of all the energy and commitment they demonstrate on a daily basis.”