The finalists are being announced by the Local Government Channel, in partnership with the Local Government Association.

After an unprecedented 350 entries, 41 finalists from local councils across the UK have been shortlisted.

From today until July 3, when the winners will be announced by BBC presenter Jeremy Vine at a gala dinner at this year's LGA annual conference in Bournemouth, the competition is wide open. It is now over to the public to decide who will win a trophy and £250 prize money.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is calling on everyone from the East Riding to rally behind and get voting.

You can see more details of East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the other finalists, including a film of their work, by going to www.localgovernmentchannel.com and by tuning into Local Government Today on the Community every day at 6.30am either on Sky 539, Virgin 233 or Freeview 87. Or by following the link on the council's home page at www.eastriding.gov.uk.

And you can show your support for East Riding of Yorkshire Council by voting via the website www.localgovernmentchannel.com/awards or via SMS to 80039 quoting LGATV 7 Eastriding.

Voting will continue until noon on July 3 when the winners will be announced.

Nigel Pearson, East Riding of Yorkshire Council chief executive, said: "The council's workforce responded magnificently to the floods last summer from all service areas in a massive effort to help the public who had been affected and in the clean up.

"Many employees worked on despite being told their own homes had been flooded.

"Our workforce deserve this recognition for their tremendous effort to protect life and limb and property from the devastation.

"The work to repair flood damaged schools and to minimise the impact on the education of pupils and students was a major operation in its own right involving the council, schools, teachers and contractors. The last remaining pupils returned to their schools this April, 10 months after the floods.

"There are still a significant number of displaced households although the numbers are reducing rapidly and our workforce continue to help those still in need."

Jeremy Vine said: "Council workers so often get blamed for everything, even the stuff that wasn't their fault. These awards are fantastic because they show the standards that are being set by people who really understand what public service is. It is not about politics, it is sheer hard work that will scoop these awards. On a good day, a local council can connect with voters in a way that Westminster and Brussels really struggle to."