This week I’m going to start on a positive and heart-warming story about one of our staff, Rhys Thomas, from social services. Rhys, a partnership and involvement officer, set off from the LC one day last week on a regular wellbeing walk with a group of service users when one of them collapsed.
Rhys performed CPR and used a defibrillator from the LC to save the man’s life. Thankfully, the man was taken to hospital and recovered. I’m sure we’d all like to think that we would do the same in those circumstances, but there’s a huge difference between having the training and being confronted with such an emergency out of the blue. Rhys’s actions were amazing and I can only congratulate him and thank him on behalf of all of us. The staff at the LC summed it up perfectly by messaging Rhys: “Massive congratulations to you for saving this man’s life! #notallheroeswearcapes – yesterday the hero wore a council badge!!”
Budget update
Our budget has started going through the political cycle with the Cabinet report now published. If it passes through Cabinet next Thursday it then moves on to Council on March 3 for a final decision. I’d encourage you all to read it, especially the section on the Medium Term Financial Plan. Whilst the coming 12 months looks financially sound, there are huge challenges ahead of us in the coming years. It’s something we are already planning for, but you can all play your part by discussing with managers how we can be more efficient and do things differently in the future. My thanks to the finance team for their work in pulling together all of the various strands into this report.
YGG Tan-y-Lan is open
I’ve said in my blog before how much I enjoy visiting our schools to catch up with staff and pupils. Due to a diary clash I was, therefore, disappointed to miss out on attending Wednesday’s official opening of the new Welsh medium primary school for Tan-y-Lan. Building a new school is a big challenge at any time. But getting it done in the middle of a pandemic is an amazing achievement. My thanks to Louise Herbert-Evans, her team in education, the construction company Kier and the school community for all their effort.
Covid update
The Welsh Government’s regular update today is expected to confirm we’ll be staying at Alert Level 0 for the next few weeks with a small number of restrictions easing in the meantime. Welsh Government guidance on working from home hasn’t changed. So please continue to work from home where you can and organise Teams meetings where face-to-face isn’t necessary.
Congratulations
Well done this week to a number of our staff who’ve won apprenticeship awards through our ongoing training links with Gower College Swansea. Tracey Ellicott won the Leadership and Management?Apprentice of the Year?award, while Scott Tovey was named Foundation Apprentice of the Year, Angela Averis gained the Support Teaching and Learning Award and Ryan Gibbons became Bricklaying Apprentice of the Year. Congratulations to them all.
Hello,
My thoughts on saving money: If a comprehensive remote and agile working policy can be put in place it will save money in so many ways as we have already demonstrated through the pandemic. Less travelling means less mileage claims. Working form home means we are using our electricity to work by and not the council’s.
We ‘re using our internet, not the council’s. Our heating, not the council’s.
Also, and I’m sure I won’t win any popularity contests by saying this, but less chiefs and more Indians in supported care planning would save you a ton of money and address that old staff retention issue.
Hi Carole,
The points raised were considered in developing the adopted agile working policy. As we come out of the pandemic they will be further considered as part of the emerging accommodation strategy I mentioned in a previous blog.
Phil
Well done Rhys! Your quick thinking and actions saved a life! #hero
Thank you
Well done Rhys, amazing achievement, a day both you will never forget !!
Thank you
Rhys, it can truly be said that all you come into contact with appreciate your touch, brilliant work, thank you.
Thank you
Well done keeping a cool head in a stressful situation and getting an amazing result Rhys!
Thank you
Fabulous job Rhys. Makes me wonder if some first aid classes would be helpful for more staff. What would have happened if Rhys wasn’t there or hadn’t had first aid training.
Hi Frances,
Thanks for your comment. The council does offer first aid courses to staff. Anyone who is interested can find out more at these links:
https://staffnet.swansea.gov.uk/emergencyfirstaidcourse
https://staffnet.swansea.gov.uk/firstaidatworkcourse
Phil
Thank you Frances, I have arranged for st johns to come out as well to run some community first aid sessions for people attending the walk as well.
Talking of the budget, the union have been informed that you will not budge on the 1.75% offer yet in your budget proposal pdf it states this:
Notes:
1. The pay award figures represent a forecast increase of 3% for all staff,
reducing to 2.5% and then 2% over the life of the MTFP, following the
UK Spending Review and removal of the public sector pay freeze.
How does this fit in with the generous councillor pay increase of 17%? The reason for such an increase was:
The draft pay rates for 2022-23 have been put together by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW), which sets pay levels for local authorities. Its aim is to avoid further erosion in relation to average earnings.
With inflation running at 5.4% in December with a projected rise in Spring to 7%, add to that the National Insurance increases and the massive hike in fuel bills the councils stance is another nail in the coffin for some people.
EDIT
I notice the MTFP pdf has been updated, it now states
Notes:
1. The pay award figures represent a forecast increase of 2.5% for all staff,
reducing to 2% over the life of the MTFP, following the UK Spending Review
and removal of the public sector pay freeze.
Hi,
The cost of living squeeze due to rising inflation, energy costs and national insurance is something we recognise will be challenging for our staff and the Council, now and in the future.
As you will know, the Council does not set the pay rates for our staff, teaching staff or councillor remuneration. They are negotiated and agreed at national level and have to be implemented by us. While remuneration for councillors has been recommended by the IRPW, national discussions about a pay settlement for staff in the current financial year are still continuing.
However, we are looking at ways we can support staff to manage their way through the cost of living crisis. In next year’s budget, for example, there are no compulsory redundancies planned – something not all local authorities can say. We are also looking to support our lowest-paid staff by creating a higher minimum hourly rate, a proposal which is being considered next month at Full Council.
Phil.
I agree re the cost saving for the employer of remote and agile working but staff will need reimbursement of those additional expenses with energy usage etc and I hope that will be considered in any long-term remote and agile working policy
Hi Nel,
Thanks for your comment. Although the points you raised were looked at when the agile working policy we’ve now adopted was being developed, they will be further considered as part of the emerging accommodation strategy I’ve mentioned in a previous blog.
Phil