In Touch Autumn 2005
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A strategic direction for Waveney Whether you are in ● The need to engage more with the “As Leader of the Council I business, public service or in the not-for- local communties and have more wholeheartedly endorse this new profit sector the most successful consultation regarding the council’s direction for the Council and all that is organisations are clear about their future use of its resources. linked with it. What we must do now is direction. They also typically know what deliver on it so that our public can see a this will mean in practical terms. So how will it improve services? council that is moving forward through ● A smaller and better-defined Council tangible service improvement. Firstly why do we need it? that knows its priorities and can focus We will report back to you on our ● The assessment by the Audit on core activity. performance regularly. If you have any Commission in 2004 ranked Waveney ● Greater efficiencies and skill base comments do get in touch with the as ‘weak’, the worst result of any through partnerships. Council on 01502 562111 or e-mail council in Suffolk. ● Measurable and more open [email protected]” ● We need to have a clear view of what performance management. the Council will look like in the future ● More emphasis on Customer Services and measure our progress towards ● Investment in the Council’s that view. infrastructure to help improve services ● We need to be clear about our and get over capacity problems. priorities and have fewer of them. ● A clear direction of travel - to move ● The council needs more financial from being a traditional authority that Mark Bee stability and medium- as well as long- does everything to one that enables Leader of the term financial planning. things to be done through others Council ● The need for stability in leadership organised wherever posible around both officer led and political leadership local communities. from councillors. Roving role for top team Waveney’s new top Corporate Services and Strategic team are to get closer to the people after Projects. adding responsibility for specific New man Stephen Archer, previously geographical areas of the district to their Head of Environmental Services and traditional roles. Building Control at North Kesteven The new top team is led by Chief District Council in Lincolnshire, will take Executive, Glen Garrod, who started with the Regeneration and Environment Waveney in April this year and heads the portfolio of services. Council's Chief Officers' Group, which is At the same time they will be liaising responsible for managing and with parish and town councils and visiting implementing policies decided by Council various forums in their allocated area to Members. ensure that the Council is more aware Left to right: Stephen Archer, Linda Scase-Jones, Linda Scase-Jones, who was and responsive to issues raised by local Glen Garrod and Louise Jordan-Hall. appointed from within the Council, has communities. the Community and Operations portfolio. Under these new arrangements Linda and the northern parishes, and Stephen Louise Jordan-Hall is the sole remaining Scase-Jones will become a familiar figure Archer will take Beccles and Bungay. Corporate Director from the previous in Southwold and Halesworth, Louise Group and has responsibility for Jordan-Hall in Lowestoft, Kessingland Project takes step forward A footpath transformed transformation that Suffolk Wildlife Trust linking gardens, the allotments and the by hardworking volunteers from an eyesore has advised how the Path can become a nearby cemetery. The existing to a tranquil haven for walkers is on track Conservation Area and made some management is very much along the right to becoming a Conservation Area. suggestions about planting and lines with only a little bit of fine tuning The Oiley Fields footpath, which runs maintenance that the Council’s workforce required to further enhance the area for between Blackheath Road and London can easily achieve with the help of the wildlife.” Road, Pakefield, had degenerated into an volunteers. The work was carried out by the eyesore that generated crime with Susan Stone, the Trust’s Conservation Council using a Government grant abandoned, stolen motorcycles and other Adviser said: “It’s a great project, not only obtained by ward councillor Stephen anti-social behaviour. for the local community, but it also Barrett in his role as a co-ordinator of the But such was the impact of the provides a valuable wildlife corridor Kirkley Cemetery and Allotment Watch Scheme. Customers come first in Waveney Family Carers Customer services at which are: Waveney will undergo a major ● Embedding a customer-first culture transformation when a new strategy to across the entire organisation ensure council staff deliver services right ● Having clear means of contact for register could first time every time begins to take effect. customers Waveney’s Service Transformation ● Introducing joined-up services that Project aims to streamline services by customers understand ensuring people get the right response ● Actively managing services by setting first time. be a lifesaver targets so that progress can be Kathryn Rowe, Service Transformation measured Project Manager, said: “The key message Family carers are being urged to join a scheme that could save for staff and customers is that this is Kathryn said: “Phase two is about the lives of the friends and relatives they about transforming the way we do things delivery. It will take time for the whole look after should they be caught up in a at Waveney, for the benefit of the strategy to be implemented but we want fire in their own homes. customer. some early, tangible improvements to Gardens to be restored to former glory The Fire and Carers Together Voluntary “It’s about providing customers with offer encouragement to staff and Registration Scheme (FACT) has been more choice and convenience with reassure elected Members and the public Lowestoft’s seafront Boat Club. established by Suffolk County Council regards to accessing Council services. about our intent. gardens and beach chalets are to be As part of the consultation Fire Service and Suffolk Family Carers Currently, customers may visit any one of We intend to make some early returned to their former glory next year if process a workshop was held on (part of the Princess Royal Trust Carer a number of access points depending on improvements before Christmas of this a bid for £3.19 million of Heritage Lottery August 11 and an exhibition on Centre Network). the service they require. Moving to a year. In relation to embedding a Fund cash is successful. August 13 at which Andy It enables Family Carers or people with position where customers can visit a Customer First culture, we will start to The £4 million-plus scheme, which Jennings told stories of old special needs to register on a confidential single services point in Lowestoft or in develop and implement a training builds upon the Sunrise Scheme, will see Lowestoft and people from the Fire Service data base so that firefighters our market towns, will improve our front programme for staff dealing with Kensington Gardens, Wellington Seagull Theatre donned period can be fully prepared for the presence of line services and make life easier for the customers at the front-end. Gardens, the Esplanade and Lower costumes to get the message potentially hazardous equipment, ie customer. We shall be reducing our telephone Promenade restored. Beach chalets across. They also raised £100 for oxygen cylinders or any special needs “We recognise the need to provide numbers and will start to operate more close to Kensington Gardens and on the East Anglia Air Ambulance. they may have to deal with in the event of professional and efficient customer consistent service hours across our Jubilee Parade will also be smartened up. Concerns about cyclists on the a rescue or evacuation. services and to resolve as many offices. We will be looking at how we Waveney District Council’s Portfolio Esplanade, toilet facilities and The register ensures Fire Control have enquiries at the first point of contact. To work to reduce bureaucracy and speed Holder for Economic Regeneration, shelters were raised at the events relevant information to signpost callers to do this we must be smarter and have things up. We will also begin to to Wendy Mawer, was delighted with the and they will be addressed as other organisations should the need people in our front offices who can develop performance indicators so we scheme. part of the scheme or related arise. It also enables the Fire Service to answer a range of questions about measure how well we are doing.” She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that initiatives. carry out a Home Fire Safety Check and different services. The Council is exploring opportunities we have the prospect of returning There will be a big exhibition on provide relevant advice to people in their “It’s about having joined-up services to enter into partnership with Wellington Gardens and Kensington October 4/5 at the Tourist own homes. which make sense to the customers.” neighbouring local authorities who are Gardens to their orignal glory in Information Centre at which the To register for this free voluntary Phase one of the project, the adopting similar strategies. Edwardian times when they were first latest plans will be on show. The scheme or, if you have any questions or development of a customer access “We are already working with other created and it was the height of fashion District Council is contributing to require more information about this strategy, has been completed and the Agencies and Local Authorities to see if to visit Lowestoft. But as well as the project, plans to submit the service, please contact Esther Pacitti, Artist’s impression of Wellington Gardens (top) strategy is awaiting the council’s we can provide some services together.