- Abertillery Online Discussion Forum -

Rocke · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 795 Location: Abertillery

Not much doing last week, which gave me an opportunity to catch up on a few things. Some organisations will soon be receiving an allocation from the so-called 'halfpenny rate' which we councillors are given control of.

Most of last year's ( again, apologies for being so far behind on this - I should have sorted it by May ) is now spent. I've still got a few to do though.
If you've written to me and not heard don't be afraid to ask what's happening.
This year's WILL be sorted in March/April. As I've said, I wait until the end of the year in order to ensure that all organisations get something. Perhaps not from me one particular year if they receive from other councillors but this way no-one should be disadvantaged by applying in, say January, or if they area group that only starts up in March. And if other of my councillor colleagues are generous I can perhaps make a lower or no donation in order that another organisation can have something.
In this way over the 4 years things will be evened out.

On Tuesday last week we had a meeting of our Customer Services Working Group. We're looking at new initiatives to make things easier for the public to report issues and to be more proactive so that you don't have to call to report overflowing litter bins etc.
As an aid statistics have been gathered regarding the main times people call. This will help us make sure there's adequate staff on at these times and that we don't waste money by having too many staff at historically low times. We're also looking into what seems to be a successful initiative in England to make service provision more local, along the lines of Neighbourhood Management. It's almost like going back to the old UDCs but without the councillors. The Council's Neighbourhood Manager would be 'the man who can'. As I said however, the Working Group is looking at this in line with a few other ideas and it's a log way from coming in.
If anyone's got some good experiences that we might consider putting into practice ( I remember that Fred has mentioned a couple of ones he's pleased with in Nuneaton in the past ) please give me a shout. It's your chance over the remainder of this term to have a say and your views put forward.

Doggy bins - or the theft of them - has kept me a bit busy as well.
Only yesterday I was told that the one by the former Roseheyworth Pit has disappeared as well.
If you see any other missing ones ( or perhaps I should say any others missing !) again please let me know.

The workload's about to increase dramatically now I've been nominated for the board of Tai Calon. There's a HUGE amount of work to do to make sure the setting up goes well and then of course setting in place policies, staff and everything else to enable us ( Tai Calon hat on this time ) to create a flagship social landlord for the Council tenants and stock that's transferring over.

All this work, I need a holiday - which in fact I'm taking.
Let me just forewarn you that the Council is not paying for my forthcoming trip to Paris. It's to celebrate our 30th Anniversary, not look at twinning, or how they collect rubbish, or theft-proof doggie bins.
And it is coincidence that I've sorted out most of the grants before going.
No-one would believe I'd done a runner with them anyway...............

Cheers !
_________________
Rocke

jools · Joined: 30 Nov 2007 Posts: 154 Location: just outside Aber

I've always thought that when reporting issues to the contact centre an incident number should be given to the customer to ensure confidentiality and to make the matter easier to chase up. Recently I have had to chase up an issue and each time have had to repeat what the issue is, name, address etc.
_________________
Top tip: never put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow

Note to self: Don't feed the troll

martyn142 · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:17 pm Post subject:

Congratulations in advance Rockey and Ruth. 30 years Shocked

_________________
The compliments pass when the quality meet.

martyn142 is a registered trademark.

fredprobyn · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject: incident numbers

Jools the incident number for reporting things has worked very well here in Nuneaton fot quite some time now.
They
give you a number to quote any time and you can even registerwith the relevent department who will keep you informed about how whatever it is you want to know about.
if yiou registered with the council all you do is quote your incident number and they invariable have an answer for you almost straight away,
I have no doubt Rocke will read this so congratulations on your 30th wedding anniversary.
Fred

Rocke · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 795 Location: Abertillery

Rocke · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 795 Location: Abertillery

Rocke · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 795 Location: Abertillery

Btw, memory loss has set in.

I forget to mention that Thursday was Cwmtillery CF's AGM.
Due to work I could only manage an hour and apologies for having to leave during Amanda's presentation.
What CF has achieved this past year is staggering.
One of the projects - Tools 4 UR Future, which gives youngsters practical training in building and environmental skills - gave rise to a presentation to WAG last week.
Amanda ( Cwmtillery CF ) and Nigel ( Aber CF ) gave a presentation that could well lead to WAG adopting this project as a policy across Wales.
Tremendous. Well done to them and to the people that support and work with them.
_________________
Rocke

Rocke · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 795 Location: Abertillery

Martyn ( and Marilyn ) and Fred - thanks for your good wishes.
They're much appreciated.
_________________
Rocke

Rocke · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 795 Location: Abertillery

jools ( and Fred ):

There is a unique Case/Ref number assigned to logged calls by the computer but apparently it's a 20-character number that would be a bit awkward to quote ( and remember ).

However:

1) Calls are uniquely grouped by caller ( actually Postcode and then name ), so if anyone makes a follow-up call the original can easily be traced. Just tell whoever answers that it's a follow-up and there shouldn't be any problem;

2) Someone at C2BG will be looking to see if we can give a more user-friendly reference number and at our next Customer Services Working group meeting ( 4 weeks time ) they'll have an update for me.

Cheers.
_________________
Rocke

jools · Joined: 30 Nov 2007 Posts: 154 Location: just outside Aber

Thanks for the information.
_________________
Top tip: never put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow

Note to self: Don't feed the troll

Rocke · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 795 Location: Abertillery

No probs jools ( and thanks ).
It's what I think I'm here for.

I'll keep you updated.

_________________
Rocke