Friday 26 April 2013

This week started with a very difficult lambing and the vet needing to visit the farm. It was such a relief that both our ewe and her lamb survived and at the time of writing my blog the lamb, which is one of the largest and healthiest we have, is galloping around in the spring sunshine!

Despite another busy week of leafleting in readiness for next week’s election, council business carries on as usual and this week I’ve had meetings with our three corporate directors and many of our service directors to discuss ongoing work as well as new and exciting projects that will help us continue to transform our organisation and services. 

This week I had a meeting with June Osborne, the Dean of Salisbury Cathedral. It’s always a pleasure to see June and there was plenty for us to talk about particularly about plans for commemorating next year’s anniversary of the start of World War One. We have been putting together plans for commemorative events in the county and Salisbury Cathedral, as one of our most famous landmarks, will have a key role. In 2015 it will be the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta and the start of the journey to parliamentary democracy. The ‘Great Charter’ is recognised as a founding block for liberty and has influenced civilizisations across the globe. It was sealed by King John at Runnymede Meadow on 15th June 1215 and one of the remaining four copies is housed in Salisbury Cathedral.  I share June’s hope that the event we are planning will give young people another opportunity to engage with our history and with democracy and learn how citizenship was forged.  I think 2014 and 15 will be busy!

I’d like to congratulate Salisbury who won the Wiltshire Rugby 7s programme on Saturday at Bath’s Recreation Ground. They played fellow rugby stars Marlborough and were presented with their medals during half time of the Bath versus Leicester Tigers game. Keeping people fit and active is all part of creating a legacy for Wiltshire – a programme of events and activities which is keeping the enthusiasm and momentum from last year’s celebratory year alive.

It’s been a busy week in Salisbury with the Big Business event taking place. I understand from officers and colleagues who have been at the various sessions and talks that it has been a real success attracting many local businesses. With our support, working with the city council, we have helped to boost the local economy and provide an opportunity for local businesses to network and promote what they have to offer. Wednesday night’s keynote speech, delivered by the BBC Apprentice’s Karren Brady, was a sellout, a sign of a successful event. 

Yesterday I had one of my regular meetings with the Leader of Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Angus MacPherson. As you may know there has been a change in leadership in Swindon with Rod Bluh stepping down and David Raynard taking over from him. I know David well as he was the deputy leader and the lead member for children's services on the council. The meeting was a great chance to talk to David and Angus about plans to develop Wiltshire Council’s partnership work with the police and continue to keep our communities safe.

I hope some of you will be able to join me in the Atrium at County Hall this afternoon for the short tennis exhibition. I’ll be there to see this great space transformed into a tennis court where young people can showcase their sporting prowess. It would be great if you could come and cheer them on.

During the course of the last four years we have transformed the way we work and nothing proves this more visually than the way we have brought our services together into three main hubs. Opening these buildings up to our partners, like the police, and the public shows just how far we have come.   

Speaking as one of the nominated candidates, I would like to just take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped to organise and run the election next week. With the unitary and parish elections being held on the same day ours, Wiltshire will be one of the biggest of the 33 elections taking place across the country. Whatever your politics, I hope everyone who is eligible will vote next Thursday and have their say on the future leaders for our county.  

In the meantime, my fingers are crossed for a sunny and good weekend. 

Jane

Friday 19 April 2013

This week the focus has been on the local economy and getting more active!

The Action for Wiltshire programme board met on Tuesday and I was pleased to hear about how we are continuing to protect and promote our businesses and to find work for those who need jobs in these tough economic times. Our apprenticeship scheme, working with local businesses, is helping many young people gain the essential skills and experience they need to find a job. This scheme has so far seen 827 young people take on apprenticeship roles with 139 local employers. But, this is only part of the work of the board; through the Wiltshire Business Support Service 128 new businesses have been created in the county and this has created 172 new jobs. And, we are about to start marketing the Enterprise Network, which provides incubation units and resources – such as the recently launched site at Ludgershall - for new start-up businesses. These start up businesses provide opportunities for young people entering the workplace, for military leavers needing to find work and budding entrepreneurs. We also discussed Wiltshire Business Expo which will take place in Trowbridge in June and the high level of interest we have had from businesses. It looks as though we will need to find more space to accommodate everyone and meet the need. I am passionate that our county’s economy can thrive and that we retain and grow existing businesses as well as attract new investment. This week’s meeting reassured me that we have made significant progress towards making this a reality. 

Next week will be another important milestone for us in our work to combat the recession and help grow our economy with the Big Business event in Salisbury. Working with the city council we are delighted to be supporting this event that helps to promote local businesses in the south of the county. I’m looking forward to joining our Economy and Regeneration team in Salisbury to meet local entrepreneurs and business leaders. The event which takes place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will continue to promote and boost the local economy; building on the success of last year. It’s important that we continue to create a legacy and not lose the momentum of 2012.   Also, with the chance to hear from keynote speaker; BBC apprentice’s Karren Brady, there will be an opportunity for everyone one to learn something about how to succeed in business, with or without the help of Lord Sugar!   

As I mentioned this week the focus was on economy and on getting more active and healthy and on Wednesday I was delighted to welcome Lord Adebowale to County Hall. Victor Adebowale was one of the first ‘people’s peers’ and is the Chief Executive of Turning Point, a care organisation that provides services for vulnerable people. As you are aware the council now has responsibility for the provision of public health services in Wiltshire and Turning Point recently won the contract to provide an improved drug and alcohol service for adults in the county for the next three years. It was good to meet Victor and hear his thoughts about what’s needed in Wiltshire to help people with these addictions.

Delivering public health services is closely linked with creating a legacy that builds on the success of 2012; particularly encouraging people to adopt a more active lifestyle.  Our leisure team has been doing a huge amount of work to encourage all ages; but particularly young people to take up new activities and challenges.

Working with the Bath Rugby Foundation and the RFU, the team has delivered a really successful Wiltshire Rugby 7s project. The project was open to club or school male rugby players aged 15 years old and local tournaments were held in Warminster and Chippenham. The outcome if this is the county final, which will take place tomorrow at the Recreation Ground in Bath and the winning team will be presented with their medals during half time of the Aviva Premiership Game; Bath versus Leicester Tigers. I would like to wish the finalists, Salisbury and Marlborough, every success. 

Next week the focus on activity continues as the leisure team has arranged two key events. A number of young tennis players will be putting on a special indoor display in the Atrium of County Hall next Friday afternoon. I hope as many of you as possible will take the opportunity to see the Atrium transformed into a short tennis court so that this group of local and very talented children can enjoy the chance to compete in a unique location in front of a different audience. This event was inspired by local tennis protégé Joseph Milton, 8, who wrote a letter to me with his proposal for the “Ultimate Tennis Centre for Wiltshire.” Joe and his coach Ron Marshall came to see me earlier this year. His enthusiasm and dedication, even at such a young age, was inspirational and what better way to being to realise the aspiration and imagination of Jo than for the council to host a junior soft tennis demonstration in the Atrium at County Hall. This demonstration will also provide the council with the opportunity to showcase the Atrium and the versatility of this public space.

Last year we enjoyed the best of national and international sport and keeping the legacy alive in Wiltshire is vital. Going for Goals is a football programme that has been run for children in Tisbury in 2010 and 2012 and received an Inspire accolade in 2012. Building on its success and taking the London 2012 lead of inspiring a generation, the programme has been rolled out across the county. Children aged between 11-12 years had the opportunity to learn new football and life skills. The tournament saw forty teams play at Pewsey and Tisbury and Durrington Sports Centres and Five Rivers Leisure Centre in Salisbury. The top two teams from each centre will take part in a grand final tournament at Chelsea FC training ground next Thursday.  I wish all the teams every success and I’m delighted that we can offer them the chance to compete in such an inspirational setting; even though it’s Chelsea FC!

This week ended on a really positive note when I met new members of staff who were taking part in their induction training.  It’s important to me to have an opportunity to meet new staff and hear their views about the organisation as they often have a fresh perspective on how we work.  I always come away from these sessions inspired by their ideas and comments. Despite the challenges we face, I believe this is a great time to be in local government, particularly Wiltshire Council as we have a huge and dynamic programme of work to transform how we deliver services and work with our local communities.

I hope you all enjoy the weekend; I will be lambing and leafleting!

Jane

Friday 12 April 2013

With the lambing season now in full swing and the sun making an appearance last weekend, it almost feels as though Spring might have finally arrived! The warmer weather is just in time as campaigning gets underway for the local elections in less than three weeks. The full list of candidates standing across Wiltshire’s 98 divisions has been published and can be found on the council’s website. Just four years on from becoming a unitary authority we have 308 candidates standing to represent their local communities; proving that democracy in Wiltshire is alive and well. It demonstrates that the work by councillors and staff to promote the elections and encourage candidates to stand has been a success; and, did you know - there are 6 uncontested seats in this election which is extremely unusual – well done to those candidates who are already elected!

I am delighted that our councillor development group has worked with officers to prepare information packs to help nominated candidates find out more about the council and what to expect as a unitary councillor. The packs which go out next week include a programme of training and events for the first few weeks in office so that newly elected members will know what to expect when they take on the role to make a difference in their local community. 

The election – one of the biggest in the country – includes 360 stations, 850 polling staff and 450 count staff and it is the biggest event the council will deliver this year. Counting will take place on Friday 3 May and I am sure many of you will be involved.

In the meantime, there is a lot happening. Plans are well underway for the Big Business event in Salisbury which will run from 23 to 25 April. We have agreed to work in partnership with Salisbury City Council to deliver this prestigious business event which promotes business to business and will help to boost the local economy.  Karren Brady from the BBC’s Apprentice is the keynote speaker. I have no doubt that Karren will be entertaining and thought provoking as she has a huge amount of experience leading impressive organisations and as the Managing Director of Birmingham City Football Club for over a decade and now as Vice Chair of West Ham Football Club. She’s known as the first lady of football – a woman after my own heart!  It’s vital we continue to give local businesses all the help we can. With the International Arts Festival starting at the end of May, and the redevelopment of the Market Place well underway, the next few months will be an exciting time for Salisbury.   

As a member of the Chippenham Area Board I was delighted to visit the Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre yesterday. Funding from the Board and from the Heritage Lottery Fund has been awarded to the Centre to ensure that the Sevington Victorian Schoolroom will stay open to educate young people through living history. The schoolroom continues to provide children with an opportunity to see for themselves what life was like in Victorian times – and hopefully realise how lucky they are living in 2013! Many who are now grown up will remember the wonderful experience of visiting Sevington and now future generations will too. The exhibition is also going to open on Sunday afternoons giving the whole community a chance to go along. 

The integration of public health into the council saw teams working together this week to provide advice on measles, following the outbreak in south Wales. You may have already seen the information on the intranet but if you are unsure of whether you or a member of your family has been vaccinated the team is advising you speak to your local GP practice to arrange a vaccination.

The news this week that Margaret Thatcher had died saw the end of an era. Despite the polarised views about her as the former Prime Minister, in my view she was a great inspiration and changed the perception of women in politics and what they can achieve.

I had an early start this morning as I was at County Hall to see the two bishops set off on their charity bike ride around the county to raise funds for Christian Aid. The Bishop of Swindon, the Rt Rev Lee Rayfield and the Bishop of Ramsbury, the Rt Rev Edward Condry, will be cycling around Wiltshire over two days to raise awareness of Christian Aid Week which runs from 12-18 May. The trip will cover 165 miles with about 6,000ft of climbing. I wish them good luck on their journey and I hope they raise lots of funding and that the sun shines on them!

I hope you all enjoy the weekend. More next week,

Jane

Friday 5 April 2013

I hope you all had a well deserved and restful Easter break.

The long weekend meant this week has been a little quieter, but I realise this is a lull before the storm as the next few weeks will be extremely busy.

On Tuesday I chaired the last meeting of the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board, which has been in place for the last 18 months and has proved to be a good opportunity to build strong relationships with our partners in health in the run up to the Board becoming official on 1 April 2013. Also, from 1st April we took on responsibility for the public health functions. The public health team is now in situ in County Hall and is working with many services to the benefit of communities across Wiltshire.

I was also pleased that on Thursday I met with representatives from the Wessex Local Medical Committee. The committee represents hundreds of GP practices across the counties of Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Wiltshire. We discussed how we can work more closely with local GPs through the new Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). It’s an interesting time as the changes to the NHS and public health services are implemented. We are building a new set of relationships and partnerships that will be the foundation for improving local healthcare and public health over the next few years. 

Yesterday, I also attended a meeting of the campus community operations boards (COB’s) chairs network, a meeting which allows the local community chairs to come together to discuss the progress on the campus programmes, as well as any issues, and to share experiences and best practice. It was good to share the excellent news that a key milestone was achieved last week when work started on the Corsham campus. What’s important is that we acknowledge that every community is unique and that we consider their specific needs and reflect these in each campus.

I’m looking forward to next week when two of our local bishops’ will be joining us in County Hall before they take to the road to cycle to raise money for Christian Aid. The Bishops of Ramsbury and Swindon are cycling an amazing 165 miles, as part of Christian Aid week, visiting sixteen Christian Aid centres in Wiltshire. We have agreed to give them a good send off and support their quest to raise awareness of world hunger and to raise at least £500.

More next week by which time I am promised spring will have arrived - albeit so late this year!

Jane