Lowestoft base for Royal Philharmonic Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Meet the new Chief Executive Air Festival latest Transformation for footpath Commission reported that we have ‘unsustainably low levels of council tax’ against our ambitions for the district. This Keeping up year council tax rose by 4.9%. We still have the lowest average council tax bills in Suffolk. We face financial pressures placed on the pace of us by central government and we will endeavour to keep the council tax as low as possible. Our commitment is to provide value for money and to make our services improvement as efficient as possible, whilst also Mark Bee. meeting community needs. Waveney is moving majority comes from you, the council Take a look at the following pages that ahead. There is a distinct sense in which it taxpayer. outline what we have achieved, and our has turned the corner and is now making We have now received the results of the planned improvements for the future. Our great progress. We have set out in this ‘Listening To You’ survey sent to every challenge is to keep up the pace of newsletter some of what is currently going household in Waveney. You have told us improvement and constantly look at new on. that you want us to continue to make and better ways in which to work. I think One major change is the arrival of our Waveney a clean and safe place to live you’ll agree that we are heading in the new Chief Executive, Glen Garrod, who and work, and want us to renew our right direction to becoming a good council took up his position on March 29th. We efforts in regenerating the area. However, that provides good services. welcome Glen and wish him well. we have a careful balancing act to make. Waveney District Council is going We are committed to using the information You can find more information about our through a period of significant change to you have provided to us in identifying our performance on our website ensure improvement - both to services to priorities, but we will not be able to do www.waveney.gov.uk local people and the way the organisation everything we would like to do and we is run. To do that we need to provide have some difficult choices to make. good, high-quality services. Some money Our recent Comprehensive Performance Mark Bee comes from the Government, but the Assessment undertaken by the Audit Leader, Waveney District Council New Chief Executive looks to Glen Garrod has development.” University College North Wales, followed officially taken over at the helm as And although it’s early days he can by a Master of Science in Pure Research Waveney’s new Chief Executive - and is already point towards three steps which at Edinburgh University and an MBA at thoroughly looking forward to meeting the he believes could help Waveney improve Sunderland University. challenges of his new role. on the standards it already offers. “I have a fairly eclectic background,” Glen, 45, arrives in Waveney following “From my perspective, we will need to said Glen. “I have worked in the voluntary a two-year spell as Strategic Director for develop our strategic partnerships as sector, the public sector, and the private Adult and Community Services with the these will be part of our core business for sector, as well as in academia, both here Isle of Wight Council. many years to come,” said Glen. “The “I felt hugely privileged when I was Council can’t do everything that needs to appointed to be Chief Executive. In the be done on its own - we need close interim I have had further opportunity to partners we can work with for a very long meet the senior management team, the time. Leader and feel a very similar sense of “The second area is to pick up on the encouragement and support to that I performance agenda; to make sure we experienced when I went to the Isle of are clear on our priorities and how well Wight,” said Glen. we are moving towards them. “What do you look for in your first post “The third point is that we need to as Chief Executive? You look for political engage better with people who work support, an able team of senior within the Council - my new colleagues - managers and an enthusiasm to change and with partners, but also and very things and improve on what’s there importantly with the different communities already - and I feel all those factors apply that constitute Waveney. There are gaps - in Waveney. but this is not unique to Waveney and is “In one sense I’m coming in at a time always something you can do better at.” when there’s a lot of disappointment with Born in Shropshire, Glen admits to what the recent Comprehensive having led a nomadic existence in which Performance Assessment Report had to he has accumulated a formidable say about the Council - but there was collection of degree qualifications! After also a recognition of some very good studying Psychology at Leeds University work, for example on economic he took a course in Social Work at Glen Garrod. 2 Footpath transformed into tranquil haven Cllr. Steve Barrett. An overgrown footpath Cllr Barrett turned to Waveney to carry in Pakefield has been transformed into a out the work - and to provide an tranquil haven for walkers thanks to a ongoing programme of maintenance. the future ground-breaking £5000 project. “The council was chosen as the main The Oiley Fields Footpath - which runs contractor because I knew I’d get good and abroad.” between Blackheath Road and London service and good value for the money However, he is keen that his arrival in Road - had degenerated into an I’d been allowed, and they did an Waveney should signal the start of a eyesore and a potential haunt for admirable job,” he said. rather more settled spell in his life. His criminals. “They planted bluebells along the wife, Sabine, already works as a doctor in But now hedges have been trimmed, footpath, they gave us a defensible Norwich, and gave birth to the couple’s flowers planted, a gate put up to stop space by erecting an oak gate to stop first child, Philippa, in December. vehicles dumping rubbish, and new vehicles going up to dump rubbish, and “I feel it’s now time to set up a ‘base signposts erected. they erected two new fingerposts at camp’ here in East Anglia,” said Glen. The work has been carried out by either end of the path. “I am delighted to have started my job, Waveney using money obtained from “The footpath is a very long-standing the time between appointment and take- central government by Pakefield part of Pakefield, and this project is a up has been long and there is a degree councillor Steve Barrett while acting in sustainable one. It has to be maintained of frustration at being at a distance. For a his role as a co-ordinator of the Kirkley by the council as a result of this grant, while I felt I had two management teams Cemetery and Allotment Watch scheme. and recently they cut the hedge the - one you are getting to know, the other “I applied for a £5000 Living Spaces entire length of the footpath on the you are saying goodbye to, the emotional Grant from the Office for the Deputy allotment side. The staff who did this turmoil can be a pressing influence.” Prime Minister to open up the Oiley could take pride of place in any stately Away from his work Glen has no Fields Footpath, which was virtually home - the hedge is immaculate, they shortage of interests. “We do travel a lot, overgrown and was a crime generator,” did an excellent job. and we do a lot of mountain walking,” he said Cllr Barrett, who works for Suffolk “Weekly litter picks are being said. “I used to be a fairly serious rugby Constabulary as Crime Reduction and undertaken by allotment holders, and player and fell-runner, but work tends to Architectural Liaison Officer for the it’s a footpath now to be enjoyed by all.” get in the way of that. I’m also learning to county’s eastern area. Now Cllr Barrett is hoping the success become a dad! “I wanted to reduce that crime of the scheme will serve as an “I still play squash and go running, generator, and open up a space which inspiration to others. and I also go sea-canoeing - or canoe could be enjoyed by walkers and the “It could be a beacon for other surfing as it tended to be on the Isle of people of Pakefield, and the other spin- locations in Waveney,” he said. “If other Wight. It’s quite exhilarating when you’re off was that the allotment holders would people took an interest in footpaths, and going along on the top of an enormous also enjoy less anti-social behaviour and took a no-tolerance approach to wave - though it doesn’t always end up crime.” dumping, we would all have a nicer quite as you’d anticipated.” After successfully securing the grant place in which to live.” 3 Credit Union Elderly retain their independence Elderly people living in residents able to vary the frequency of aids money sheltered accommodation or in their calls according to their needs. homes are being helped to maintain “If they do need help from the Health their independence for as long as Service, Social Services or from any possible in Waveney.