Housing staff at Bedford Borough Council were shortlisted as a finalist for Best Council Services Team at a prestigious award ceremony last month.
The Housing, Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation teams were shortlisted as finalists for Best Council Services Team at the MJ Achievement Awards 2026.
Councillor Andrea Spice, Portfolio Holder for Economic Prosperity, Planning, Housing and Regulatory Services said; “The Housing Team have worked tirelessly to improve outcomes for everyone – service-users, taxpayers and the community as a whole.
“The judges were impressed by the Housing Service Transformation Project, which simultaneously improved our homelessness services while reducing spending by £5million.
“There was no single step to doing so, but the team were unwavering in tackling every issue and every challenge, beginning with making sure we had the right staff in place. But it’s not just about having the right people but giving them the right tools and getting the right results from others - by managing demand, working with other partners, investing in temporary accommodation and a whole host of other measures.”
Judges commended the team for their innovation, determination and relentless focus.
The MJ Achievement Awards are run by The Municipal Journal (The MJ), a weekly magazine and online news hub covering civic administration and local government across the UK. Their awards are one of the most prestigious national award ceremonies in the UK, often referred to as the "Oscars" for local government.
Councillor Spice added; “This is an incredibly challenging environment, where Bedford Borough has seen demand trend for temporary accommodation treble from April 2019 to April 2025. Our officers have met that challenge head on, and we couldn’t be more proud of them.
“I’d also like to thank my former cabinet colleague Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant, who provided unstinting support to the team during her time overseeing housing.”