Last week I promised feedback on how we got on with the Panel Performance Assessment (PPA) that many of you participated in. I am pleased to report that the panel’s initial feedback has been very positive. Thank you to everyone who participated – they clearly got the message loud and clear that our ‘Team Swansea’ culture is embedded in all that we do.
The PPA is part of a process that all councils in Wales go through. The panel’s purpose is to bring fresh sets of eyes and come back to us with their perspective on how we can amplify best practice and tackle the challenges we face. The panel describe us as a good and ambitious council with strong and experienced political and corporate leadership. Other things they said:
- An embedded and positive culture – ‘Team Swansea’
- Clear evidence of a major shift to a transformational, ambitious place-based approach
- Exemplary and inclusive political relationships across the Council
- Exemplary Member Officer relationships
- Well respected by partners, residents, business and stakeholders – again ‘Team Swansea’
About you, our workforce, they said your team culture is outstanding and that you are ambitious, motivated, and compassionate. They recognised your ‘can-do’ attitude, successful ‘grow your own initiatives and strong internal corporate communication.
There are always things to learn and challenges to meet, so we asked the panel to review some additional specific areas as well. This includes recognition that workload issues in some areas need to be addressed, and we should apply further focus on prioritising our activity in the medium and long term, both on project delivery and digital solutions to ensure we continue to operate effectively.
So, overall, this initial feedback is an excellent endorsement of your efforts by a group of people who are experts in their field with decades of experience in local government and public service. Congratulations, and thank you for your continuing support. We will be putting together an action plan after we get the main report later in the year. I will keep you posted.
On Tuesday, I attended our Annual Scrutiny Work Planning Conference, where I offered my thoughts as councillors discussed priorities for the year ahead for their Scrutiny Work Programme. I am pleased that our scrutiny function has also been praised in our Performance Panel Assessment. A strong scrutiny function is vital and depends on support from members and officers from across the council. My thanks especially to the efforts of staff in the scrutiny team for a service that is well-organised and forward-planned.
Our position as an ambitious council performing well was also highlighted this week by the UK local government Oscars – the LGC Awards – where we were the only local authority in Wales shortlisted in any of the categories out of over 1,000 entries. In their feedback, there was warm praise from the judges who recognised the passion and pride we have in our regeneration ambitions and their positive impact on residents. We just missed out on the overall Council of the Year title, but being shortlisted is an achievement and an opportunity to showcase ourselves to our peers, offering them the opportunity to learn from us, and us from them. My thanks to all those staff who helped secure this accolade via the application process, and for the judges’ visit last month.
Well done to our waste and recycling team, which this week hosted a drop-in session as part of their campaign to recruit more drivers and carriers and the ongoing endeavours to stabilise the waste service after a few challenges recently. It was highly successful with more than 200 people turning up, and a similar number have already put in job applications. We have also launched our latest digital apprenticeships recruitment campaign, and together they demonstrate how we are an employer of choice in Swansea. This is not only good for workforce development and local jobs for local people, but also for our reputation in our communities. My thanks to all involved.
This week saw the latest step in the transformation of Castle Square Gardens with the removal of The Leaf artwork at its centre. In the coming weeks, you will see hoardings go up around the square as work begins on the revamp. It is a vital project that will help continue our city centre’s regeneration, boosting both Swansea’s reputation and ours. My thanks to the teams who have got us over the line with the project.
And finally, this week is National Blood Donor Week, celebrating the vital life-saving contribution donors make every day to their communities. It is an issue that matters a great deal to me, so if you can give, please do.
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