CMT met yesterday with the regulatory authorities – Audit Wales, Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales – who monitor the work of public bodies like us to discuss our plans for the year ahead. We welcome robust oversight of our work because it provides valuable fresh perspectives and helps us improve the services we provide to the public. The catch-up was a very positive and productive engagement meeting which looked at assurance processes and risk assessment work we’re planning for the coming year. Despite the many challenges we face, the regulators were very positive about our political and managerial leadership, our commitment to partnership and collaboration and the effectiveness of our approach to corporate governance. As with other local authorities, they were also interested in how we’re looking to meet the challenges of housing and homelessness, transformation, cybersecurity and budget and risk management.
Corporate discussions with regulators might feel far removed from the work you do every day. But the regulators’ continuing confidence against a challenging backdrop is further reassurance that the way you deliver services that touch people’s lives is being done efficiently and effectively. My thanks to you for your ongoing commitment. The outcomes from our meeting yesterday will inform our corporate and service plans going forward and ensure they are aligned with the corporate risk register and performance management framework.
Managers and staff working in Civic Centre and the Guildhall are being given a reminder that they need to be up to speed on procedures to follow in an emergency evacuation of the buildings. Our health and safety team has published new guidance highlighting what managers need to do to ensure staff with impaired mobility are supported with a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP). You can find the guidance here, so if this may affect you or a colleague, please take a look.
Earlier this week I attended a celebration event organised by the Heartbeat Trust UK where Swansea was named the UK’s first Defib-friendly city. Thanks to a lot of hard work over the last few years from officers and members we now have a network of almost 650 defibrillators which will save lives. The council has played its part in achieving this accolade through direct investment and coordination of assets and the charity was very grateful for our contribution. Find out more about defibs in your community here.
More good news this week is that Swansea Arena has been named among the finalists for a Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW) Welsh Architecture Award. My thanks to all staff involved in the scheme.
It’s time to say farewell to Peter Richards, our Building Control, Bereavement and Registration Services manager, who’s worked for the council since 1988 and retires at the end of the month. Peter’s chaired Local Authority Building Control Cymru for the last 13 years, helping develop policy and regulations in this important area. I have taken plenty if advice from Peter over the years and it’s always been valued so a personal thank you for your service, Peter, and we all hope you enjoy your retirement.
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