My blog is being published slightly later than usual today as I want to update staff on the senior management appointments that have been made this morning.
It has been a busy week on senior staffing appointments and my thanks go to the HR team for their excellent support throughout and to the members of the Appointments Committee and Council who have ensured that the review has been implemented rapidly to prevent any instability in the organisation. This has meant six separate Appointments Committee meetings and an extraordinary Council.
This morning Council appointed Dave Howes to the post of Director of Social Services, Nick Williams as Director of Education and Ben Smith as Chief Finance Officer. This has been an exhausting week for the candidates following assessment centres, competitive interviews and presentations to members while they continue to focus on their day jobs. I am delighted with all these appointments and I know that the successful candidates will help us to tackle the difficult challenges ahead.
The Deputy Chief Executive will be appointed on 21st August.
Lagoon
You may have seen in the media reports that the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon can be delivered without UK government funding. A report and addendum prepared by financial experts Holistic Capital said a Swansea Bay tidal lagoon is a fundamentally strong proposition and an ‘exceptional’ project that could provide clean power for generations to come.
A task force is being set up to take the lagoon concept forward. The aim is to adopt a new approach to procurement by bringing on board well-established construction partners and looking at ways to fund the project without the need for UK Government financial support.
I will keep you posted on developments as we try to find a way to deliver this innovative and sustainable project with our local and regional partners
High 5s
This year there’s been 135 nominations and there has been a real diversity in where the nominations have come from. There are 39 nominations from friends, family and sports clubs, 14 nominations from schools and many from council staff. Judging takes place over the summer and the awards ceremony is in the autumn. Thanks to all who have nominated
Awards
I’m delighted that we have four finalists in this year’s APSE Service Awards, a key reflector of public service excellence. They are our apprenticeship and training programme (in the workforce initiative category), Team Around the Family in Schools (innovation / demand management initiative), corporate building service review (construction and building services team) and Trading Standards (environmental health, trading standards and regulatory service team). Winners will be announced in mid-September. Well done to all involved!
Clyne Gardens has been shortlisted in the Leisure and Tourism category at the Swansea Life Awards 2018. The awards night takes place on September 14 at the Brangwyn Hall. Clyne Gardens is a proud Green Flag holder and has hundreds of thousands of visitors a year.
Swansea Crematorium
Staff at the Crematorium have been praised by the Federation of Burial and Cremation Services for their dedication and commitment to the service. The federation’s role is to ensure services adhere to statutory requirements. In their report inspectors said the grounds were in excellent condition. They were impressed with the presentation of the service at the crematorium and felt the staff should be congratulated for providing a high-quality service to the bereaved.
Cruise
The 193-metre long MS Amadea docked at the city’s port last Friday carrying 620 German passengers. Our staff worked closely with Cruise Wales and Associated British Ports (ABP) to attract and arrange the visit. Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Innovation, Regeneration and Tourism, presented a plate to the ship’s captain to mark the occasion.
The feedback we received was exceptional – there were many smiling faces and the passengers complimented our tourism team on the welcome they received. Thanks to all.
Summer holidays
The council is putting on 200 events over the school summer holidays in libraries, leisure centres, Swansea Museum, the Prom, Dylan Thomas centre and much else besides.
This weekend our teams are involved in the White Lady Festival in Mumbles and the Clean Air Roadshow in Castle Square on 28th. Details at: www.enjoyswanseabay.com or www.swansea.gov.uk/holidayactivities
If you’re heading to Oxwich Bay on August 4 you’ll be the first to get a glimpse of our Tourism Team’s brilliant new ‘Swansea Bay Surfari Bus’ on the opening date of a four-week tour of Wales and Ireland. The bus is a converted iconic VW Camper van complete with Visit Swansea Bay-branded livery. Funded through the Welsh Government Rural Development Programme, its purpose is to show visitors and potential visitors face-to-face what our brilliant coastline has to offer.
A 20-destination tour includes visits to Gower, mid and North Wales and then it’s across the sea to Dublin and Kilkenny. The Swansea Bay Surfari Bus is being supported by a Welsh Government grant and is part of the 2018 ‘Year of the Sea’ tourism campaign.
I will be on annual leave for the next two weeks so my next blog will be on 17th August
Leave a Reply