Rocke
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The last week of Winter that wasAnd not a week of discontent as the previous one was.
FIP ( Finance, Improvement & Performance ) committee on Tuesday.
Here we look at how the functions are doing financially, how the Council's performing in terms of doing what it's supposed to ie. provide services etc. for our citizens and how we can improve how we operate.
Absenteeism is a biggie.
The Council's set up a scheme dealing with absenteeism and apparently in the past 6 months it's dropped almost 50%.
It's difficulty to calculate the true cost but it's a lot.
Not only do we pay those who are sick but almost always someone has to do their work, diverted from other duties and sometimes we have to employ cover, such as agency teachers.
We're also looking at 'customer care'.
I hate that expression, even though I was possibly one of the early pioneers of it, way back in the 80's.
The art of it as I see it is to minimise the amount of contact a person has with us.
I had a good example of how we do it well yesterday. I was at someone's house. They'd moved in in November and got their CTax bill - and paid it. I happened to ask if they had claimed their Single Person Discount - and they didn't know about it.
One call lasting no more than a minute and it was all done. Money overpaid credited to their account and a revised Bill on the way, also for this coming year.
If only we can get the same im place for housing repairs !!
On that subject, as I've said some months ago, Housing's got a customer care professional in - and his ideas are good, almost from my own heart.
We're getting there.
Weds saw me in an Appeals Sub-Committee.
Councillors are both representatives and employers. There's times when I wish we weren't.
We have to judge whether the decision to dismiss an employee was reasonable but more than that we almost have to second-guess a possible Industrial Tribunal. If we uphold a decision and that is overturned at a tribunal then the cost to the council could be quite high.
The uneasy bit with appeals is that we have the sword of a tribunal hanging over the council's head if we uphold the decision but are in effect not supporting our managers if we overturn their decision.
You simply can't go away feeling completely comfortable.
Outside the council - but still in politics - there's the public image.
As I said last week, I was looking forward to seeing what the published response to my letter to the doom and gloom sheep would be.
I got called up. 'Dai, can you come and have a look at my PC ? Oh - and have you seen what ............... ( personal remark, which I've left out ) has said in The Gazette ? Have you got your apples and oranges yet ?'
Next day, eagerly looking through the Gazette - and what a let-down.
The funniest thing of all - and it is pretty funny - is that Cllr McCarthy pointed out the success of previous administrations' rationalisation of Primary schooling.
Just as I had, the previous week...............
Best letter in there is Mr. Hanney's.
He clearly has a bee in his bonnet about Members' allowances and most notably pensions.
He also has a few misconceptions and perhaps doesn't know much of the background to the scheme(s).
He also has all this explained to him in a detailed response I've sent to the Gazette.
If they don't publish it ( I suspect that other Members - or even the Leader - might want a bite at this ) I'll post it on here.
It'll be a couple of weeks though, since - as with my last letter - I realise that they might think a later date is more appropriate.
Lots to relate to you next week !
Our Committee ( Ed & Leis ) on Tuesday, Regeneration - double-yellow perils up for discussion ! on Weds. Environmental & Public Protection on Thurs - Sian, Burial Charges etc. are finally up for discussion !.
And Friday sees another Appeals Sub-Committee.
On the Ward side, Communities First on Thurs.
Chance to see how the Lakes development(s) are coming along.
Cheers.
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