Every year we review our spending restrictions guidance for staff, in line with the budget agreed at Full Council, and with our prevailing budget situation. Naturally, the restrictions apply more directly to managers and budget-holders, but their impact is felt by all our staff because how our budgets are spent affects the work you do. This year, thanks to an improved budget situation, we’ve been able to relax some of the restrictions including some of restrictions on recruitment. Our budget is kept under close review, and we might need to tighten the restrictions again if the situation deteriorates in-year changes, but I think its important to be able allow greater delegation where funding permits. I will keep you posted as we move through each quarter.
Appraisal season is now officially underway. Everyone must have an appraisal, and the process must be completed by mid-July. They are part of our commitment to you because they enable you and your manager to identify progress and personal development opportunities that contribute to effective delivery of our services and ultimately deliver what Council has asked us to do. Guidance has been published for managers, and they should share the details at your team meetings, and start arranging dates with you over the coming weeks. There are more details here.
At our Cabinet and CMT awayday yesterday, we had an update about our digital services strategy and considered the conclusions of our review of public access to our services via our phone services. Both are part of our Successful and Sustainable Swansea Transformation Plan. They are about supporting you to deliver services more efficiently and effectively; while also ensuring we continue to ensure the public benefits from access to those services in the ways they want. My thanks to our head of digital and customer services Sarah Lackenby for the updates and for all those who are inputting into the crucial work across the council. Further details will be made available as we finalise the agreed way forward
I’ve often spoken in the blog about the regeneration of our city centre, its impact on us, the reputation of the council and of the city more generally. And, as part of the staff survey, you asked for more stories about what our teams do and what impact they have on the communities we serve. If you click on this link, it’ll take you to a story that brings these two issues together, featuring insights from our regeneration team about what it’s like to deliver change in the city centre. My thanks to Lee Richards for being the first to do a Q&A like this. But I’d also welcome contributions from you if you’d like to do similar articles that go behind the scenes on how we deliver services that have real impact in our communities.
Staying with that thought – if you were in the Quadrant Centre this week, you won’t have missed the very busy Spring Jobs Fair. My thanks to Joanne Thomas and employment and skills team for organising this valuable event that aims to support our residents and, ultimately, improve their lives. More than 20 organisations showcased scores of job opportunities, alongside experts offering top tips on CV and interview techniques.
And, in a similar vein, well done to cultural services’ sport and health team who have been running hugely popular physical activity sessions at local Flying Start centres, private nurseries and schools. Their project is aimed at encouraging pre-schoolers to develop positive wellbeing habits and a passion for sport, exercise and play that last their lifetimes. It’s going down really well with youngsters and their adult helpers, whose appreciation you can read about here. My thanks to all involved.
You may remember I mentioned in a previous blog about the sad passing of our colleague Gareth Hughes after a long battle with cancer. For those planning on attending, his funeral is taking place on April 30 at Noon at the Llwydcoed Crematorium, just off the A465, near Aberdare (Satnav: CF44 0DJ).
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