As we’ve just started a new financial year, appraisal season is also upon us. Everyone must have an appraisal, and I had mine this week with the council’s political leadership on the Chief Executive’s Appraisal and Remuneration Committee. We looked at seven themes: reputation, regional collaboration, city regeneration, our transformation programme, budget, our corporate priorities and plan as well as corporate governance. Alongside those themes are actions I have to take and measures by which my performance will be monitored and assessed over the coming year. It’s quite exacting and very challenging, as it should be but I’m really looking forward to the year ahead.
On the reputation strand, I will be expected to continue to provide visible leadership inside and outside the council, promoting us and the city nationally, locally and regionally. This goal will be measured in a range of different ways, not least in terms of getting out to see you in your workplace, finding out what’s on your minds and taking actions on your feedback. It’s also happening through my staff engagement group, the staff survey and improved internal corporate communication, but the momentum needs to be maintained over the next 12 months. I will be shortly publishing all my agreed objectives and intend to go through my remaining themes in more depth in future blogs. But it goes without saying that the ability for me to deliver on these goals is fundamentally dependent on your support. That’s why I continue to be grateful for your commitment and hard work every day.
Part of my appraisal also includes providing leadership and support to Senior Manager Group, the latest meeting of which took place on Wednesday. It was a very productive event; in particular we looked at changes to procurement arrangements and the workforce strategy around succession planning, staff recruitment and the upcoming review of agile working. Five years after the start of the pandemic, it makes sense to do an in-depth review now of how agile working operates, its benefits and challenges. I’ll keep you posted.
Our plans for the future of the city centre Debenhams store are going to Cabinet next week for a decision. The big news is that we’ve agreed outline terms with two retailers and a leisure business to take space in the former store. It is really important progress, influencing the city centre’s status among retailers as a destination and our growing reputation for getting things done, delivering on the priorities of residents and business alike. My thanks to Lee Richards and his team for getting this over the line.
Sticking with reputation for a bit longer, my thanks to Rhys Harries, the trading standards and corporate fraud teams for leading a major raid in London this week on a UK-wide counterfeit children’s toys distribution business. The raid stemmed from work the team did last Christmas confiscating fake-branded toys in Swansea city centre. The trail led them to warehouses in Southall where they found many thousands more toys, some of which were a risk to children’s health. The work was praised by brand-owning companies, who attended the raids and praised our actions. It’s another example of UK recognition for the work we do to keep people safe.
On Tuesday I caught up with the team at the West Glamorgan Regional Partnership which plays a significant role supporting our work with unpaid carers. Unpaid carers are the largely unsung heroes of the social care system. Many – among them children – can slip under the radar when it comes to getting the support they need to do what they do. So, if you know an unpaid carer who could do with a helping hand, please point them in this direction.
Next week is Mental Health Awareness Week and our health and wellbeing team has developed some useful ideas and guidance about where to get help if you or someone you know needs it. Please take a few minutes to have a look; it could help make a difference.
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