This year’s staff survey is going live today and gives all our employees the opportunity to give their views following a tumultuous 16 months. The pandemic has brought massive challenges for us all, at home and in work. The survey is a chance to reflect on that and to look at how we want to work in the future, given that many of us are still working from home.
The survey is available on Staffnet via this link, and via the Council’s external website here in English and here in Welsh. And during August hard copies will be available at our satellite offices and depots, especially for those who don’t have IT access in work. On the back of the pandemic and all the changes we’ve had to make, it’s more important than ever that we get the views of staff so please take the time to respond.
I assure you that CMT will act upon what you tell us. This really is the chance for you to shape what happens in the future.
Working with government
Yesterday we hosted a visit from the Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething to see progress on the Swansea Central scheme and tour the new arena and bridge. It was a huge success and I was very proud to see the progress that our teams have made. Later on Thursday Geoff Bacon and I attended a Teams meeting with the Wales Office to discuss the UK Government’s Plan for Wales. It sets out the Government’s policy priorities for Wales as part of its wider ambitions to level up across the UK. It will increases the presence and visibility of the UK Government in Wales. We shared our proposals for a public sector hub at the Swansea Central Phase 2 site and for me the commitment to devolve would be a tangible demonstration of the UK Government’s commitment to regional investment to help us deliver the proposals our officers have been working hard on. Thanks to Geoff and our teams in the Place directorate for the development of schemes that the UK Government will need to consider in their priorities for investment.
CMT this week focussed heavily on our education service and discussed the future of the 21st Century Schools programme as well as a termly report from the director on our schools. As the academic year ends we should all express our gratitude to all the staff in the directorate and in our schools for the way they have coped in the most challenging of years. I hope our teaching staff enjoy a well-deserved break and we look forward to helping them organise the return in September when hopefully there will be complete clarity on the arrangements for managing in the pandemic.
Earlier in the week we shared the proposals for our new approach to regional school improvement with the political leaders in the region; Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. We’re very close to finalising arrangements and the model that will replace ERW is a real improvement on the previous collaboration. It’s been a complicated path to tread but guided by our education and legal teams we’ll be in a better position to provide the specific support for schools. Thanks to all involved and also to the head teachers who’ve given us their input in designing a more streamlined and focussed service.
Covid-19
The First Minister announced on Wednesday the measures that will now be in place following the latest review of the Covid-19 situation. The cautious steps being recommended are informed by the scientific evidence and all going well we may be at alert level zero by 7th August. But I’m not yet fully clear on what the new set of rules will mean for our staff, particularly in Housing and Public Health. Further discussions with Welsh Government and the WLGA will be needed to ensure a coherent and consistent approach is taken by councils in Wales.
Farewell
Three of our education psychology team are leaving – Jose Cifuentes, Alison Griffiths and Linda Fulford. A special mention to Jose. As we work towards becoming a Human Rights City I can think of no better example of how a community can embrace and welcome a person who fled tyranny and dictatorship in his home country and restarted his life thousands of miles away. He, along with all our education psychology team, have made a huge impact on the lives of our young people which often goes unnoticed by the population. If you needed evidence of how making our city a place of sanctuary gets repaid dozens of times over then look no further than Jose and his family who’ve all made important contributions to the council, to ethnic youth support and to community cohesion. I hope he has a long and happy retirement and I want to thank all three of them for their service to the people of Swansea.
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