What a year 2011 has been. I can hardly believe how fast the time has gone and how much has happened. There is often little time for reflection when the pace is so fast, but I have taken some time to look back on what we have achieved this year.
We have done so much to be proud of and we have done this whilst we manage constant change.
We have managed our budget really well following the cuts in government grant funding and unlike many other local authorities we have minimised the impact on our front line services. It is your innovative and creative ideas and approach that has meant we can deliver our key services differently. Take our libraries as an example; we have managed to keep all of these open, and, in some cases for longer hours, as a result of recruiting local volunteers, we now have over 600 – which is outstanding!
We are also looking at how we will deliver other services in a new and more responsive way. Our youth service is an example where young people want to influence the services where they live and be able to access facilities for young people. Working with young people and volunteers we won’t be closing any youth centres.
Our huge programme to reduce and transform our buildings and offices has had an impact on many of you and I recognise that whilst this is unsettling the end result will be worth it. The programme delivers savings for our tax payers, and new, modern offices that will be better for our customers and all of us. The recent opening of family resource centres in Devizes and Trowbridge highlight how buildings can be adapted for multipurpose use and are a wonderful place to help those who are the most vulnerable.
It is difficult for me to talk about all the things we have achieved as there really have been so many. This year we have introduced the new and improved waste collection service; we have managed the bad weather and looked after the most vulnerable in our communities. We have changed our approach to working with communities and our campus programme has seen us hand over the reins to community groups to discuss and decide what services they need, where they need them, and how these can be best provided. The first three campus developments have recently been approved by my cabinet. These will be in Melksham, Salisbury and Corsham and work will get underway on these soon.
Our area boards are going from strength to strength and communities are doing more for themselves. Our grants are helping to make things happen and we have had some highlights this year including seeing Cricklade win the Champion of Champions for Britain in Bloom and seeing Wootton Bassett awarded Royal status in recognition of the local community commemorating the many soldiers repatriated through the town centre.
I realise that we often focus on the front line service areas and that our support services do not always receive the recognition for the outstanding work that they do and a lot of what we do is successful because we have built good relationships with many of our partners. I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all of you for your hard work and commitment throughout this year.
Your contribution to making a real difference to all the people in our communities fills me with pride and I know that Wiltshire Council is a success because of you and the way we do things.
Next year will continue to be both challenging and exciting. We will continue to invest in our key services, protect the most vulnerable in our communities and make efficiencies of £36 million and 2012 will be a year of celebration and a very important year as Wiltshire will be in the worldwide spotlight and we can leave lasting and positive memories for all who live here.
The Olympic Torch relay and the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations provides us with a once in a lifetime opportunity to reinvigorate our local economy, showcase what makes Wiltshire so special and to reignite and grow our sense of real community spirit.
Next summer will see many events, activities and celebrations across the county and with your continued commitment, enthusiasm and support I know we can help to make 2012 a truly outstanding year.
I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year at the forthcoming staff forums. In the meantime, I wish you a very happy and peaceful seasonal break and a big thank you to all of you who will continue to provide the critical services for our communities during this festive break.
Jane
Wednesday 21 December 2011
Friday 9 December 2011
Friday 9 December
Can I start by apologising for not updating my blog before now - I really don’t know where the time goes and I often feel like there are not enough hours in a day to do all the things that need doing.
Since my last blog a lot has happened. The new leadership team is in place and working well together focusing on the key priorities for their first 90 days and next year. They have been working closely with me and my cabinet on next year’s budget, and as you may be aware next year we need to make efficiencies of £36 million. Whilst this is a challenge, the team is focused on delivering savings that minimise the impact on our front line services and makes the savings through reviewing many of our service areas including our administrative and business support.
The team has also been presenting with me to all our managers at forums in Salisbury and Chippenham. So far we have met over 500 managers and the forums have had really positive feedback. These events have included an update on where the council is heading, the key priorities and how we will be working together to deliver these. We have welcomed questions and ideas on how we improve in some areas, and the team is already working on some of the ideas. In January we will be meeting staff at a number of forums and I’m looking forward to hearing your views on how we’re doing.
Last week I attended the Wiltshire Assembly, which brings together private and public sector organisations to look at the issues affecting Wiltshire. The event, which was held in Salisbury, was one of the best assemblies so far. The key note speaker, Cormack Russell was really inspiring and talked about how we can really work with communities and get them involved in what we do and help them to do more to help themselves. I was particularly impressed with his view that we should stop focusing on issues and problems and what’s negative in local areas, but instead focus on the positive and assess the strengths and skills that are in abundance in our communities and look at how we use these to do more and improve life in Wiltshire. He also has a theory that if you want to get communities together to inspire them and to take actions then don’t arrange a meeting, hold a party as more people will come to a party and get involved!
Certainly, this is food for thought for next year. 2012 will be a year of celebration and we are talking to all our local communities to encourage them to do something to celebrate and mark the events happening in 2012. Plans are starting to come together for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and for the Olympic Torch Relay. Now that the relay route has been announced we are working with communities to encourage participation in their towns to animate the route as the torch bearers run through and to select their local talent to perform on a stage, which will be erected in Hudson’s Field in Salisbury. We are also working closely with the Lord Lieutenant on a big event at Salisbury Cathedral in early May, where all our communities will be invited to promote what makes them unique.
We really want to showcase Wiltshire next year and there will be many opportunities for communities to do this. I am really positive that 2012 will provide the opportunity to reinvigorate our local areas and communities and already the enthusiasm is spreading and lots of ideas are being generated. Many area boards are committing funding to support community groups and we will be offering help to make hosting an event or street party easy.
Next year will be busy, and I envisage a big community party where people come together to make Wiltshire a better and stronger place. I promise to try and blog more often as there is so much to keep you updated on!
Jane
Since my last blog a lot has happened. The new leadership team is in place and working well together focusing on the key priorities for their first 90 days and next year. They have been working closely with me and my cabinet on next year’s budget, and as you may be aware next year we need to make efficiencies of £36 million. Whilst this is a challenge, the team is focused on delivering savings that minimise the impact on our front line services and makes the savings through reviewing many of our service areas including our administrative and business support.
The team has also been presenting with me to all our managers at forums in Salisbury and Chippenham. So far we have met over 500 managers and the forums have had really positive feedback. These events have included an update on where the council is heading, the key priorities and how we will be working together to deliver these. We have welcomed questions and ideas on how we improve in some areas, and the team is already working on some of the ideas. In January we will be meeting staff at a number of forums and I’m looking forward to hearing your views on how we’re doing.
Last week I attended the Wiltshire Assembly, which brings together private and public sector organisations to look at the issues affecting Wiltshire. The event, which was held in Salisbury, was one of the best assemblies so far. The key note speaker, Cormack Russell was really inspiring and talked about how we can really work with communities and get them involved in what we do and help them to do more to help themselves. I was particularly impressed with his view that we should stop focusing on issues and problems and what’s negative in local areas, but instead focus on the positive and assess the strengths and skills that are in abundance in our communities and look at how we use these to do more and improve life in Wiltshire. He also has a theory that if you want to get communities together to inspire them and to take actions then don’t arrange a meeting, hold a party as more people will come to a party and get involved!
Certainly, this is food for thought for next year. 2012 will be a year of celebration and we are talking to all our local communities to encourage them to do something to celebrate and mark the events happening in 2012. Plans are starting to come together for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and for the Olympic Torch Relay. Now that the relay route has been announced we are working with communities to encourage participation in their towns to animate the route as the torch bearers run through and to select their local talent to perform on a stage, which will be erected in Hudson’s Field in Salisbury. We are also working closely with the Lord Lieutenant on a big event at Salisbury Cathedral in early May, where all our communities will be invited to promote what makes them unique.
We really want to showcase Wiltshire next year and there will be many opportunities for communities to do this. I am really positive that 2012 will provide the opportunity to reinvigorate our local areas and communities and already the enthusiasm is spreading and lots of ideas are being generated. Many area boards are committing funding to support community groups and we will be offering help to make hosting an event or street party easy.
Next year will be busy, and I envisage a big community party where people come together to make Wiltshire a better and stronger place. I promise to try and blog more often as there is so much to keep you updated on!
Jane
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