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The Liberal Democrats in Wirral have been presented with the Local Government Association Liberal Democrats Green Council Group of the Year Award 2010 at the Liberal Democrat National Party Spring Conference, held in Birmingham on 12^th - 14^th March. The award was presented by Liberal Democrat Local Government and Communities Shadow Secretary of State, Julia Goldsworthy MP.

Speaking after winning the Green Council Group of the Year Award, Wirral Liberal Democrat Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Gill Gardiner said:

"The achievements that we are most proud of are the ones that represent the culmination of our work over the last three years. Wirral Liberal Democrats have made Wirral one of the first authorities in the country to set a carbon budget. We have secured funding to extend free cavity wall and loft insulation to all homes across the borough, reducing energy use and improving housing standards. Our measures have secured investment to fund a Council Sustainability Unit to help deliver a 60% reduction in carbon emissions across Wirral by 2025. We have also taken action to increase recycling rates from 14%, peaking at over 40%, and introduced measures to clean up and restore pride in our environment.

"All of this demonstrates how hard the Liberal Democrats in Wirral have worked to deliver phenomenal and rapid success in tackling climate change and improving the environment and we can be proud to have beaten some stiff competition from other areas of the country."

Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Simon Holbrook said:

"Winning this award for Green Council Group of the Year is testament to the excellence of our individual projects, the breadth of our achievements and the fact that we have been able to sustain them over a number of years.

"Three years ago, we identified the Environment as one of our key priorities. Tackling climate change and developing a carbon neutral Wirral, increasing and improving recycling and waste management and encouraging people to take pride in their local communities as key areas where we knew we could make a difference.

"Three years on, in 2010, our influence on this priority through our activity on Cabinet, in the Council Chamber and in our communities has secured progress to bring our policies to fruition and ensure that we have put in place a firm foundation for further success in the coming years as well."

Pictured above, left to right: Cllr Peter Reisdorf, Cllr Sarah Quinn, Cllr Jean Quinn, Cllr Gill Gardiner, political assistant Abigail Pennington, Cllr Simon Holbrook, Julia Goldsworthy MP, Cllr Bob Wilkins, former political assistant Ann Davies, Cllr Ann Bridson.