Judges' Comments on the entry from Ilton Parish Council.
The judges are pleased to be declaring Ilton Parish Council winners of the 2008 competition's People category and it was clear to the judges that Ilton Parish Council have sound initiatives on all fronts and posses an exceptional and comprehensive generosity of spirit towards their village community, secular and spiritual, and a wider one beyond.
The people of Ilton, assisted by Ilton Parish Council, have achieved a sophisticated degree of service provision in the spheres of Business, Environment and Communications and have a high level of village activities per capita. Despite setbacks, or disadvantageous starting points, the community of Ilton has achieved thriving schools, businesses, village hall and sports provision, as well as determined and effective work on environmental initiatives.
In making the People category award, the judges found Ilton Parish Council's partnership working with youth exemplary and most worthy of any parish council's close examination for best practice. Foremost here seemed to be the principle of provision with youth rather than provision for youth. The visiting judges were delighted to meet with the representatives of Ilton's Youth Parish Council and found their account of activities and the relaxed, confident, independent and constructive relationship with the "non-youthful" Ilton Parish Council most inspiring. This has led to the development of well used and well cared for facilities used by Ilton's youth, maintained by Ilton's youth and, most importantly, to be confidently handed over to Ilton's new youth when the current members of Ilton's Youth Parish Council become (too) less than "youthfull".