A YORK councillor’s project aimed at ensuring more residents can play their part in local democracy has secured her a national award.

Linsay Cunningham-Cross, who represents Skelton, Rawcliffe and Clifton Without for Labour and is City of York Council’s cabinet member for crime and stronger communities, was up against four other councillors from elsewhere in the UK for the £10,000 Bruce-Lockhart Bursary at this week’s Local Government Information Unit awards.

Judges named her the winner of the award for her proposal to draw up a model for “increasing engagement and participation in local democracy”, which will use examples from throughout the country to create a guide for councils on this area.

Coun Cunningham-Cross said: “It’s a real honour and it provides York with a great opportunity to be at the forefront of work to improve engagement with our communities, something which is so important in determining how effectively a council serves its residents.”