24 October 2011

Hello everyone

I thought it may be useful to update you following the decision at cabinet on Thursday 6 October to implement a new senior management model. The implementation of the new model is progressing well. Andrew Kerr has taken the option to apply for voluntary redundancy. Any recommendation concerning his dismissal on the grounds of redundancy will be subject to confirmation by Council when it meets on 8 November.

The cabinet also agreed to recommend Council to agree that the service director human resources will be designated the head of paid service. Other necessary changes to the constitution and the appointment of Returning Officer, as a result of the new model, will also be considered by Council on 8 November. None of the four corporate directors have applied for voluntary redundancy. The officer appointments panel will, therefore, meet on 31 October and 1 November to determine appointments to the three corporate director posts.

It is anticipated that the new leadership team will be in place by the end of November. One of their first tasks will be to review the comments submitted by some of you during the consultation process and to agree the reporting lines and areas of responsibility for each director.The appointed corporate directors and I are planning a series of manager and staff forums starting in late November. This will provide an opportunity for all of you to meet the new team and hear more about the direction of the council and the key priorities that we will be focusing on.

In the meantime, it has been business as usual and I would like to thank you all for your hard work and commitment during this period. And, whilst I’ve said it’s been business as usual, there has been some extraordinary business too!

I was fortunate enough to be invited to two historical events in Wiltshire that took place recently.

The first, on Saturday 15 October, was the inauguration of the new Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend Nicholas Roderick Holtam, who was enthroned and commenced his public ministry in the Diocese. Young people from Wiltshire played a large part singing at his enthronement. The formal cathedral ceremony was a ticket-only event and I was delighted to attend along with representatives from the 200 Church of England schools within the Diocese.

The second event was on Sunday 16 October, and many of you may have seen the media coverage on Wootton Bassett receiving the letters patent on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen and becoming Royal Wootton Bassett. This made the town the first in more than 100 years to be given the title of "Royal" in recognition of its efforts to honour the UK's war dead.

Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal presented the award at the official ceremony, which was also attended by Prime Minister David Cameron and Philip Hammond, the new Defence Secretary, making his first public appearance in the role following the resignation of Liam Fox. Gen Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff and professional head of the Army, also attended. As Princess Anne took the stand a Royal Air Force C-17 transport roared low overhead, following the route taken by the corteges. A minute's silence followed.

Princess Anne stated that “This community has come together in the most extraordinary way. I am privileged to be allowed to add my thanks to those of Her Majesty and the whole country for the example you set in respecting with dignity the losses that this country's operational responsibilities have forced upon us.”

Young and old equipped themselves with Union Flags for the two-hour ceremony, culminating in a march-past led by the band of the Royal Marines, complete with a second flypast by a C-130 Hercules and then later in the day a display by Britain's last airworthy Vulcan.

The day was poignant, emotional and a wonderful example of a community that came together to honour the high price paid by our Armed Forces. Paul Heaphy, the town's mayor said "This is not a day for celebration but one for commemoration, one of recognition, and one to mark the beginning of a new chapter for our town. We did not ask for recognition and we find the attention rather humbling."

From my point of view, the town did the most wonderful job and the day was history in the making. All ages gathered to watch and remember the reason why such an honour was being bestowed. I was so proud to be part of such an occasion and have said well done to all those who made it both special and extraordinary.

I will keep you all updated over the next couple of weeks of the corporate director appointments.

Jane