Barnsley Council commended in 4ps 2008 Awards for Excellence

BARNSLEY Council has received an award from 4ps, local government's partnerships specialist.  The council’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) team has been highly commended in the 4ps 2008 Awards for Excellence.

The BSF team was recognised for its innovative approach to the improvement of educational services in the borough through the development of nine new Advanced Learning Centres and two special schools. BSF team members attended the 4ps awards at Local Government House in London where they received the 4ps highly commended award for Best Project Team.

4ps (Public Private Partnerships Programme) offers procurement support to local authorities including project support, skills development and procurement guidance.

Chris Wilson, of 4ps said: “Earlier this year 4ps called for greater partnership working between public, private and third sectors to generate efficiency gains. The winning and highly commended local authorities demonstrate successful community partnerships involving the public, private and third sectors. We were very impressed with Barnsley’s Building Schools for the Future programme, which is an example of a highly successful project that has made a real contribution to the area.”

Cllr Linda Burgess, Cabinet spokesperson for Children, Young People and Families, said: “We are delighted that the BSF project team has received this award. The programme to rebuild the entire secondary and special school estate is a major step towards transforming learning and care in Barnsley.”

For more information on the winning and highly commended entries of the 4ps’ annual awards for Excellence in PPP 2008 please visit: www.4ps.gov.uk/awards

ENDS

Issued by press office, 01226 773442, email: pressoffice@barnsley.gov.uk