THE shortlist for a pioneering new awards scheme for authorities in the region has been published.

The shiNE Awards 2008 will recognise the achievements of the region's councils and fire services when they are revealed on March 6.

A total of 228 entries were made for the ten award categories, which include accolades for unsung heroes, public service and green projects.

Among the councils put forward are Sunderland City Council, with six nominations, including its employees Andy Lamb and Ralph Sidney, both up for the unsung hero award.

Northumberland County and Durham County Council have also each received five nominations.

In total, more than 20 of the councils and fire services have received at least one nomination.

Some of the schemes put forward include a partnership of more than one organisation.

Durham County Council and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service have earned a joint nomination for a youth award for their Bikewise Mini Moto Club project, which also involves Durham Police. It runs training sessions for young riders and is the only club of its kind in the country.

There is also a partnership working award, in which one of the nominations involves five councils for the St Oswald's Way, a 97-mile (155 km) long-distance walking route in Northumberland from Hadrian's Wall to Holy Island.

The Association of North-East Councils has organised the awards, which are sponsored by the Improvement Partnership for North-East Local Government.

ShiNE AWARDS SHORTLIST

Category 1: Engaging with young people

Blyth Valley Borough Council - Make-a-Move Saturday Night Inclusion LeaguesDurham City Council - Future Business MagnatesDerwentside District Council (supported by Durham County Council) - Special Programme for the Implementation of Children's Elections (Spice)Durham County Council (with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service) - Bikewise Mini Moto ClubMiddlesbrough Council - "You can manage without criminal damage"

North Tyneside Council - "Have Your Say"

Category 2: Unsung heroAlnwick District Council - Syd CarrBerwick Borough Council - Jo's Motivation for Berwick (Jo Curtis)Northumberland County Council - Singing the Praises of the Man with the Van: Donald WhiteSunderland City Council - Andy Lamb, youth advocateSunderland City Council - Ralph Sidney, operations manager (drainage)Category 3: Reputation awardDurham City Council - Durham City NewsDurham County Council - Countywide residents' magazineNewcastle City Council - Increasing customer satisfaction and improving service deliverySouth Tyneside Council - Reputation AwardSunderland City Council - Creating a better reputation for a council - and a cityCategory 4: Value for moneyAlnwick District Council - Alnwick Community ProjectsNorthumberland County Council - Transforming financeSunderland City Council - Overnight home care - investing in customer peace of mindCategory 5: Green awardEasington District Council - Pride in EasingtonGateshead Council - Transport improvementsNorth Tyneside Council - Tynemouth sand dunes projectNorth Tyneside Council - Waggonways NetworkWear Valley District Council - Innovative solar panels hit the dalesCategory 6: Crime and community safetyDarlington Borough Council (with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service) - Streetsafe WeekMiddlesbrough Council - Community safety in east MiddlesbroughNewcastle City Council - Evaluation of Bottlewatch scheme in east end of NewcastleNewcastle City Council - Arch and Westgate Community College learning mentors - conflict management training for young peopleNorthumberland Fire and Rescue Service - Fireworks youth achievement courseCategory 7: Public service deliveryDarlington Borough Council - Dolphin CentreNorthumberland County Council - Providing a crucial service in healthSunderland City Council - Sunderland customer service centre - Bunny HillTynedale Council - Hexham Sensory GardenWear Valley District Council (supported by Durham County Council) - Wellness on WheelsCategory 8: Place-shapingDurham City Council - Regenerating the villages of DurhamEasington District Council (in partnership with Durham County Council) - Regenerating a communityGateshead Council - Transformed - GatesheadSouth Tyneside Council - Horsley Hill EstateCategory 9: Partnership workingAlnwick District Council (with Tynedale, Morpeth borough, Berwick borough and Northumberland County Council) - St Oswald's WayMiddlesbrough Council - Easterside Neighbourhood Management ProjectNorthumberland County Council - Northumberland Renewable Energy group - project innovator, generator and facilitatorSunderland City Council - Better health for a better futureTynedale Council - Hexham Community PartnershipCategory 10: Improvement awardChester-le-Street District Council From a poor poor' to a good good' County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service - Zerotolerance campaign within Derwentside. Darlington Borough Council - Darlington's Gateway to Success Newcastle City Council - Arch and Westgate Community College Learning Mentors - conflict management training for young people.