Chief Exec's Blog

An update from the Chief Executive

Are we a good parent?

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The Care Inspectorate Wales have been with us again this week and I met with them on Wednesday to talk through our approach as a corporate parent, our progress on safeguarding and the performance of our Children’s Services.

Thanks to Gemma Whyley and Julie Thomas for their support and guidance as the inspection process is an important one if we are to improve our services further.  Amongst the areas I felt confident but not complacent about was our performance as a corporate parent and the work done across the organisation to ensure children in our care have the best start in life and are able to realise their ambitions.  This is a reflection of the work done for children in care by staff across the council which I’m very proud of and grateful for.  This was particularly important as children in care was a key theme for the inspectors.

A good corporate parent should think the same way about the children in its care as any other parent should do.  Are they able to achieve their ambitions, experience a good education, feel safe and secure, live free from poverty and enjoy life?  There were a number of examples beyond the direct work of social services that I was able to give to demonstrate this commitment, including the measures we’ve taken on housing, education, council tax, the apprenticeship strategy, Beyond Bricks and Mortar and cultural event invites, all of which benefit children in our care and care leavers.

We won’t know the outcome from CIW for some weeks yet but thanks to all the staff involved in the inspection. I hope to thank them in person this afternoon at an event to mark the end of the three-week inspection.

Regionalisation

We’re waiting to hear the next steps in relation to local government reform following the scrapping of compulsory merger proposals.  It sounds like another working group is on its way and I’ll be seeking to be represented on it.  In the meantime, I’ve spent this week in joint committee meetings for ERW and Western Bay and at the City Deal programme board.  The workload associated with all this collaboration is growing massively and following the senior management restructure I’ll be looking at the best way to ensure we’re represented at the various meetings that have filled up my calendar.

There are some significant challenges in relation to ERW which I’ll be working with regional colleagues on and there’s much to be done on the Western Bay collaboration in preparation for Bridgend Council’s departure next April.

Your home, your health

I’ve been working with colleagues in housing, social care and the health board to organise a symposium on housing and health at the Liberty Stadium in October.  The links between good housing and good health outcomes are strong and I hope the symposium can help us develop our strategies and investment programmes to help promote independence for older people, combat the scourge of homelessness and tackle the impacts of welfare reform and fuel poverty.  I’ll say more about this as the date approaches but if you are interested then you might wish to mark October 5 as a date in your diary.

High 5

The nominations for this year’s High 5 Awards are closing today. Thank you to everyone who’s been involved and to those who’ve nominated young people. I look forward to the judging process and planning the awards night in the autumn.

End of term        

As the end of the school year approaches I’d like to thank all the teachers and support staff for their efforts during the year.  I’ve been impressed with the performance of schools across the city and this has been evidenced in a series of ESTYN inspection reports throughout the year.  Have a well-earned rest and come back refreshed after the summer break as the next cohort of learners will be arriving.  Thanks to all.

Best wishes

Another long-serving employee is leaving with Clare Watson setting out for a new life in Brittany. Clare has worked as a specialist teacher for 20 Years and has 37 years’ experience working with pupils with additional learning needs. Based at YG Bryn Tawe during the last 14 years, Clare has provided support to pupils from Welsh medium schools as well as providing essential training across Swansea.

 

Your views matter

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During the last four years our staff surveys have generally been positive, but they’ve highlighted some difficult issues like bullying and harassment which we we’ve introduced measures to combat.  Response rates have also been mixed and CMT this week discussed what to do to improve this.  All members of CMT are fully behind the principle of gathering views from staff, but only 26% of staff took part last year and many told us this was because the survey was too long.  As a result we ran a shorter survey as a pilot in the Place directorate and we intend to roll-out this shorter survey across the organisation from September.  Staff that took part in the pilot survey back-up up this view. We’re also considering in future years supplementing the shorter surveys with thematic add-ons based on current issues, for example agile working, stress or innovation. We’re keen to hear your views on this and I’ll say more about the staff survey as we approach the launch of this year’s version.

Welsh

We’re having some problems complying with the Welsh Language Standards. One of the recurring issues is that when people contact us in Welsh we need to respond to them in Welsh. This is just one of the issues staff face, but there are many more requirements for all of us and it’s really important that we don’t fall down on these. The Welsh Language Commissioner is already dealing with several complaints against us. Here’s a handy guide to what’s required so please ensure we all do what’s necessary.

Senior Staff Appointments

The appointment dates for senior staff following the recent restructure have now been set.  The directors of social services and education, along with the chief finance officer will be appointed by Council on July 27.  The Deputy Chief Executive appointment will be made on August 21.  I’ll keep you posted.

Co-production

I’ve previously mentioned the need for councils to develop a new relationship with citizens.  Legislative changes like the Social Services and Wellbeing Act and the Future Generations Act require us as public bodies, quite rightly, to work in different ways. This week I attended an interesting seminar on co-production.  This is defined by the Co-production Network for Wales as an asset-based approach to public services which enables citizens and professionals to share power and work together in equal and reciprocal relationships. Co-production is underpinned by a set of principles:

  • valuing all participants, and building on our strengths
  • developing networks of support
  • doing what matters for the people involved
  • building relationships of trust, sharing power
  • people can be change makers, and organisations enable this

I know many teams are already adapting to these principles and we heard some interesting developments in social services from Lisa Banks and Jane Whitmore.  We’ll be developing some further ideas around these principles and how they may impact on other services and our citizens.  I’ll say more as this develops but I would also welcome any staff views about co-production.

Join in with the Mischief Makers

Our Library Service and the Reading Agency have teamed up with Beano to help them celebrate their 80th anniversary for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, Mischief Makers. Children’s reading can ‘dip’ during the summer holidays, so the challenge is an excellent way to engage children in reading. Our libraries will be running events and children can join-up in any of our libraries from July 14. Thanks to our library staff for organising this.

Achievements

From time to time I acknowledge the achievements of staff for their work in the organisation.  I know many go above and beyond this in their personal lives and I was astonished to hear the achievements of Douglas Thomas, Site Supervisor at Pentrehafod Sports Centre and Pool.  At work Douglas has completed 31 years’ service with 100% attendance over the last 11 years, despite suffering a potentially life-threatening illness in 2004.  On top of this he‘s devoted his private time to life-saving and water safety. The Evening Post reported this week that Douglas was one of only 29 people in the UK (and only two from Wales) awarded the British Citizen Award. This is his 5th major award in the past 10 months and I hear that another one is shortly on its way.  Congratulations Douglas for your exemplary service at work and in your community.

Farewell

Today is the last working day for Chris Sivers, our Director of People.  Chris is leaving to work in South Gloucestershire. She’s made a fantastic contribution to delivering our priorities and helping to put Swansea on the global stage through her work on Learning Cities, Healthy Cities and Human Rights Cities.  Chris is having a cake sale in the Lord Mayor’s reception room today so please feel free to come along and wish her all the best for the future.

A bitter blow

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On Monday the UK Government dealt a bitter blow to the tidal lagoon with their decision not to support the scheme by subsidy.  No major energy project has 100% popularity but the support from the community of Swansea and our region was overwhelming.  The war of words that continues is testament to that.

Personally I’m deeply disappointed, it’s a lost opportunity to create a new industry and to translate the Future Generations legislation into real outcomes for citizens.

Many will be confused by the arguments over the level of financial support required and whether the decision was based on the pilot project rather than the pipeline of similar schemes proposed.  The comparison with off-shore wind generation and the reduction in cost following pilot schemes is unavoidable.  Presumably, if the legal requirement in relation to non-disclosure of commercially sensitive information is released we will have a clearer picture of the facts.

But we are where we are, so the question is what do we do now?

The Leader and I are adamant we mustn’t give up on the lagoon project.  The requirement for zero carbon, reliable and sustainable energy will increase in the coming years.  Energy security is a real concern for future generations. The community, business and cross-party political support in South Wales for this is something we must build upon and we’ll continue to look for ways to deliver it. The Leader and I have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the people of Swansea and the region for this project, grateful to the work of all the staff who dealt so effectively and efficiently with the planning application and full of admiration for the communications team who’ve run a first class Love the Lagoon campaign.

City Deal

On Monday the Leader and I met the Secretary of State for Wales, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport to discuss progress on the City Deal projects.  It was pleasing to explain the work that’s been done in Swansea and across the region in the run up to the signing of our Joint Working Agreement next month.  This means we can draw down cash from UK and Welsh Governments to deliver our key projects in the city centre; the Digital Village, Digital Square and Arena and Box Village and Innovation Precinct.  Our team is currently working on the extensive and exhausting five case business model and my thanks go to all involved.

The First 1,000 days

The Core Group of the Public Service Board met again this week.  Along with revisions to governance and action planning we heard a presentation on the First 1,000 days from colleagues at Public Health Wales. 

The first 1,000 days, during pregnancy and up to a child’s second birthday, represent a critical part of childhood when we form attachments to our caregivers, learn how to safely explore and trust the world around us, and start to communicate. It is when we see the most rapid phase of brain growth and development and where the foundations are laid down for our future health and wellbeing. This critical period has a long lasting impact on individuals and families. They shape the destiny for children as they grow up: their educational achievements, their ability to secure an income, their influences on their own children, and their health in older age.

The PSB agreed to sign up to the First 1,000 days partnership agreement and committed to improved joint working in this critical area.

Congratulations

Nicola Fredrickson, Deputy Head at St Helen’s Primary School, has won a silver award in the UK teaching awards.  She’ll now attend the National Awards in October. Jack Branford, a teaching assistant at the school, and one of Nicola’s ex-pupils, was also awarded a certificate of excellence for his role.  The school was also awarded a certificate of excellence in the school of the year. Congratulations to all.

Congratulations to the team at Swansea University for another successful Soapbox Science event last week.  Once again there were some great presentations on work done by female researchers in STEMM subjects ranging from the impacts of video games on the brain to monitoring diseases using printed sensors.

More planes than you can shake a stick at

Well it’s the Wales Airshow for me this weekend as I join the throngs on our annual pilgrimage to Swansea beach for one of the UK’s most-loved events.  Thanks once again for all those providing the logistics that enable this huge and complex event to happen.

Eid

A word of thanks to to everyone who got involved in the Eid in the Park celebrations last Saturday at Singleton Park. It was organised by us in collaboration with the Welsh Islamic Cultural Association Swansea and Swansea University and more than 5,000 people came along.

Farewell and thank you

Last week I mentioned a long list of long-serving staff who are leaving. Unfortunately, I missed out Neil Sewell who works in Audit and has 34 years’ service. My best wishes to Neil and all our other leavers, many of whom are having a farewell drink today.

Balancing the books

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This week CMT and Cabinet members have been having early discussions on our budget strategy.  There are some major challenges in delivering this year’s savings but it’s essential we’re successful in doing so.  Detailed monitoring arrangements have been put in place and I’ve asked managers to ensure the spending restrictions  are strictly followed.  CMT will continue to monitor vacancy management and procurement whilst we develop additional in-year savings proposals to ensure we come in on budget at the end of the financial year.

As part of the overall financial picture, management costs must be reduced in order to protect front line services so I was delighted that Council approved my report on the review of our senior management structure last night.  All staff affected are being consulted over the coming weeks.  The proposals set out how we’ll save around £280,000 in senior management costs whilst ensuring there’s enough capacity to deliver the Council’s ambitious programmes and for us to meet the challenges of regional working. I know this will present challenges for staff in delivering our services but the financial environment for all councils is getting increasingly tough.  We now need to develop detailed proposals for discussion with councillors in the autumn and I hope all staff will feed ideas in so that we can minimise job losses.

Farewell

This month sees a number of our long-serving members of staff taking ER/VR. The 32 leavers have clocked up more than 740 years’ service between them which is a remarkable achievement. Among them are Kath Thomas in our school governor unit who’s done 31 years, Nigel Jones, the driving force behind many of our major events, who’s reached 32 years, and Deb Yeates who will be known around the council for her work in HR who’ll be leaving after 37 years. There are too many to mention in this blog, but here’s a link to the full list. It’s always sad to see colleagues leave, but I wish them all well and thank them for their outstanding service and commitment to public service in Swansea. The place is going to seem strange without these familiar faces!

Schools

I mentioned last week that schools would be taking part in an enterprise event in Castle Square and I’m delighted to say it was a huge success. Their products included pocket games, bird seed holders, soaps, scrabble key rings, flower pots and candles in vintage tea cups. Well done to everyone involved.  And congratulations to Morriston Primary School which is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Staff, pupils, parents and local businesses have taken part in the celebrations.

Events

Swansea communities which have their roots in the Windrush Generation will be sharing and celebrating their heritage on Saturday. It’s the 70th anniversary of the arrival in Britain of the ‘MV Empire Windrush’, a former cruise ship carrying Caribbean migrants answering a UK government call for a new generation of workers to help re-build Britain after the ravages of war.  The event is being held at the Guildhall  and will feature a Gospel choir, local artists and a display from Swansea Museum. It’s been organised by Race Council Cymru in collaboration with our Cultural Services team and Black History Wales.

Refugee Week celebrates its 20th birthday this week. It’s a nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational activities that celebrate the contribution of refugees and people seeking sanctuary to the UK and encourages a better understanding between communities.  In Swansea our Fusion team have delivered a range of music and lyric writing workshops at Gower College for adults, organised a film evening at Cinema and Co and showcased a primary-aged Ballet showcase.

This weekend I’ll be at the Liberty Stadium to watch the Killers.  It’s part of an exciting series of events taking place in Swansea this summer so thanks for all the staff who are working to support the programme.

 

It couldn’t have happened without us

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Last week I mentioned that there would be no blog this week as I have been on leave but I couldn’t miss the opportunity to thank everyone involved in organising the BBC Music’s Biggest Weekend music festival in Singleton Park last Saturday and Sunday.  60,000 people from across Swansea and the rest of the UK descended on Singleton Park to enjoy the event.  All our major hotels were fully booked as over 10,000 people from all corners of the UK joined the UK’s biggest music festival this year. The Biggest Weekend contributed a massive £2.4m to the local economy.

The media coverage of our city on BBC Radio and BBC IPlayer has been fantastic and Swansea is still being talked about on air today, with millions more watching online, firmly placing Swansea on the map as a destination which works together to deliver major events. Our own websites of www.enjoyswanseabay.com and www.swansea.gov.uk received a massive 90,000 page views for this event alone. I attended for a while on Saturday and was thrilled by the comments of Radio 1 Controller Ben Cooper and his praise for our teams.

 

The Singleton Park setting, the weather and the obvious enjoyment had by all those lucky enough to have tickets was perfect and I am delighted with the One Council approach to delivering this major event. My sincere thanks goes out to the team of staff who helped to make it a huge success, both inside and outside of the park. The BBC and the reporting national media have been singing our praises and we hope that this relationship will bring many more events to Swansea in the future.

2018 is proof that Swansea is the biggest stage this summer and we still have so much more, music, sport and cultural events to look forward to, so please check out www.enjoyswanseabay.com

Trip Advisor

I was delighted to hear that five council-operated venues –  Brangwyn Hall, Oystermouth Castle, Dylan Thomas Centre, Grand Theatre and Swansea Museum – have each been recognised with a Trip Advisor 2018 Certificate of Excellence, based on the consistently great reviews on the world’s largest travel site.

Only select businesses receive a Certificate of Excellence so it’s a great achievement by our staff.

Thanks to all of them.