The award of the government's prestigious Charter Mark for the provision of high quality services to three sections at Chelmsford Borough Council was announced last week.

The award is made to bereavement services (cemetery and crematorium), building control services, and Chelmsford Community Safety Partnership (with Essex Police and Essex County Council).

The award to the Community Safety Partnership is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the country.

The council's chief executive, Martin Easteal, said: "All three awards represent a tremendous amount of work by all the staff involved in providing these important services - and from those supporting them - and I should like to thank and congratulate them. I am sure that these awards will be the first of many, reflecting the very high standards that Chelmsford Borough Council provides across all its services, and the dedication of its staff."

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