Issue - meetings

The Head of People and Property Services submitted a report detailing the progress of the “Here to Help” programme which had been set up in January 2014.  The Corporate Project Co-ordinator explained that managers and staff had attended workshops in April, May and June 2014 and identified ideas and suggestions aimed at a local, service and corporate level around working together to make a difference, the detail of which was set out in the report now submitted.

Councillor P Ruffles welcomed the programme and asked if there were plans to sell the approach or share the information with other authorities and cited the Environmental Agency as an example.  The Corporate Project Co-ordinator said that the programme was only in its initial phasing but could be developed further working with external partners.

The Head of People and Property Services stated that Human Resources would be looking at particular sections with a view to increasing awareness.

Councillor C Woodward referred to previous initiatives to encourage improved service delivery such as “Changing the Way We Work”, and the FISH Programme which he said, had faded away.  He was concerned that what was now being proposed was yet another panacea when he believed, the previous schemes had not been delivered.  He suggested that it could be useful to develop the “Here to Help” approach in Councillors’ Development Programmes and also externally, to include Parishes.  Councillor Woodward referred to the shared services and the different cultures of each Council. 

The Head of People and Property Services stated that the approach aimed to allow staff to lead the process and enable change.  Councillor Woodward urged Members to listen to feedback.  

The Chairman stated that the Council’s position in 2007 was completely different to how it was now.  He praised the on-going work.

The Committee received the report.         

RESOLVED – that the update on “Here to Help” Programme for September 2014 be received.