Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has achieved reaccreditation to the prestigious Councillor Development Charter Plus standard following a rigorous reassessment by the NILGA, the awarding body.
This significant achievement reaffirms the Council’s ongoing commitment to supporting and enhancing the skills, knowledge, and professional development of its elected members - ensuring they continue to meet the highest standards set out within the established Charter Plus framework.
Having first secured Charter Plus accreditation in 2018, the Council now holds the title for maintaining the higher‑level accreditation longer than any other council in Northern Ireland.
The Council recently held a reception at Craigavon Civic Centre to receive the reaccreditation certificate from the Chair of NILGA Elected Member Development Network, Councillor Frances Burton, and NILGA Regional Development Manager, Fiona Douglas.
They were joined by the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Jessica Johnson, Council Deputy Chief Executive, Charlene Stoops, senior management, and members of the Council’s Elected Member Development Steering Committee whose leadership and commitment were central to securing the reaccreditation.
This latest success marks the Council’s second consecutive reaccreditation, highlighting a sustained and embedded culture of continuous improvement and strong civic leadership.
The Deputy Lord Mayor addressed the attendees at the event, saying: “We are delighted to have retained this reaccreditation for a further three years. Both members and Council officers should all take pride in this well‑deserved recognition.
“It reflects this Council’s strong focus on supporting councillors in their roles through high‑quality learning opportunities, tailored development programmes, and a strategic approach to building leadership capacity.
“The assessment panel was impressed by our portfolio of evidence, which clearly demonstrated how sustained investment in member learning and development has resulted in impressive service delivery outcomes across the Council.
“This reaccreditation should further strengthen public confidence in our elected members’ ability to carry out their roles effectively, provide strong civic leadership and be equipped with the skills needed to meet the changing needs and expectations of communities across the borough.”
Fiona Douglas, Regional Development Manager with NILGA, added, “NILGA fully commends Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council on their achievement in securing Councillor Development Charter Plus reaccreditation.
The assessment clearly demonstrated that the Charter Plus framework continues to drive a significant cultural shift, bringing members together to work cross‑party and collaboratively with senior officers to set priorities and strategic direction across the borough.”
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