As The MJ launches its 2019 awards Michael Burton reports on how winning the 2018 Local Authority of the Year category this year made an impact on Blackburn with Darwen Council and talks to its chief executive Harry Catherall and leader Cllr Mohammed Khan

With perfect – but unplanned – timing, Blackburn with Darwen Council was named 2018 Local Authority of the Year at last June's The MJ Awards just days before the council celebrated its 20th anniversary as a unitary.