WORKERS from Kirklees Council's revenues service have been shortlisted for an award.

They may not be popular with home and business owners, but the team which administers council tax and business rates are in the running for Team of the Year in awards run by the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation.

The benefits investigation section of the council's revenues and benefits service has also been shortlisted in the final of the Anti-Fraud Team of the Year category.

The institute's awards are considered the Oscars of the revenue and benefits service. Clr Paul Battye, the council's Cabinet member for revenues and benefits, said: "Being finalists for the Team of the Year award shows that the professionals recognise our departments as the best in the country.

"From being a poor performing service just a few years ago, revenues managers and staff have turned things round so it is now one of the very best.

"I am delighted this hard work has been recognised."

Staff had to put themselves forward for the award by producing a report to highlight the improvements they have made over the past year - and others planned for the future.

The team was then visited by members of the institute earlier this year.

Gary Watson, of the awards panel, said: "We always have a large number of submissions for this award, which are always to a very high standard.

"Kirklees has done exceptionally well to reach the final. They can already consider themselves winners, regardless of who actually takes the award."

Both the revenues team and the benefits investigation section will discover whether they have won awards at a ceremony in Manchester on October 20.