Top Local Land Charges teams in England and Wales revealed

Top Local Land Charges teams in England and Wales revealed in Land Data Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence 2023.

The winners of the 2023 Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence were announced at a ceremony hosted in Bristol by comedian Dominic Holland – winning and highly commended Local Authorities celebrate with Land Data and the awards supporters.

Top Local Land Charges teams in England and Wales revealed

Over 120 local authority Local Land Charges Officers who carry out land and property searches required for conveyancing transactions, attended the 16th Land Data Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence gala dinner last night in Bristol, hosted by comedian Dominic Holland. 

The national awards recognise the work and achievements of Local Land Charges departments in England and Wales. More than 250 entries and nominations naming over 100 local authorities were submitted by solicitors, licensed conveyancers, customer services experts and Local Land Charges Personnel. The finalists were drawn from a shortlist of 46 local authority teams and 18 individuals. 

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 recognising customer satisfaction, best newcomer, best performing NLIS Local Land Charges department, best performing migrated Local Authority, the Unsung Hero, and the Local Authority searches team of the year.  

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: 

“The 2023 Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence was once again a fantastic platform for acknowledging excellence and innovation in the profession.

“Local Land Charge teams, like most sectors, adapted many of their working practices during the COVID pandemic.

“Far from ‘getting back to normal’, this year’s entries have shown how the changes initiated by COVID have been the catalyst for continued improvements, greater efficiencies and new ways of working.

“All the finalists are very worthy and deserving winners!” 

The 2023 Award winners are: 

Customer Satisfaction Award for Local Authority Searches – supported by the The Coal Authority 

District Councils 

Winner: Arun District Council 

Highly commended: West Devon Borough Council 

 

Metroplitan District Councils 

Winner: Gateshead Metropolitan District Council 

Highly commended: Dudley Metropolitan District Council 

 

London Borough Councils 

Winner: London Borough of Hillingdon 

Highly Commended: London Borough of Barnet 

 

Local Land Authority Searches Team of the Year – supported by the Local Land Charges Institute 

Winner: West Lindsey District Council 

Highly commended: Buckinghamshire Council  

 

Best Newcomer – supported by SearchFlow 

Winner: Claire Sharman from Ashfield District Council 

Highly Commended: Karen Garner from Arun District Council 

 

Best Performing NLIS Level 2 Local Land Charges Department – supported by the National Land Information Service (NLIS)

Winner: London Borough of Lambeth 

Highly commended: London Borough of Bromley 

 

Best Performing NLIS Level 3 Local Land Charges Department – supported by the National Land Information Service (NLIS)

Winner: City of York Council 

Highly commended: London Borough of Sutton 

 

Best Performing Migrated Local Authority – supported by HM Land Registry

Winner: Isle of Wight Council 

Highly commended: Mid Suffolk Council 

 

The Unsung Hero Award – supported by the National Land Information Service (NLIS) Hub 

Winner: Anita Tunnicliffe, Stoke-on-Trent Council City Council 

Highly commended: Sumitra Chudasama from London Borough of Brent 

 

Kindly shared by Land Data