47414 blab leaders statement 2012 … · resources available to fund public services, increasing...

Leader’s Statementto Annual Council

May 2012

FEATURES

A Taste of Our Achievements

Future Priorities

Managing Resources

Celebrating Blaby District

Next Steps

Blaby District Council is ambitious for its area, for the

people living, working and visiting the District and is determined to further

strengthen its community leadership role as we steer our Council through the next few

challenging years.

ThisleadershipofPlaceisparticularlyimportantintoday’sworldwherewecontinuetoseesignificantreductionsinthe

resourcesavailabletofundpublicservices,increasingpressureonpeopleandbusinessesacrossthedistrict,thechangingnature

ofpublicservicedeliveryandnewrisksassociatedwithsomeofthemajorchangesaheadsuchaswelfarereform,localisationofcounciltaxsupportandbusinessrateretention.

ThepastyearhasbeensignificantforourCouncilandthecommunitieswe serve. Following last years elections we have seen our 12 newcouncillorshavinganincreasinginfluenceonhowwedoourbusiness.

IseethisaspositiveaspartofmyresponsibilitiesasLeaderistolooktothefutureandnurturetalentandideassothatthisCouncil’ssuccessis

assuredbeyondthetenureofanyoneindividualorexecutive.

As in previous years I will highlight some of the Council’s achievementsduring2011/12andfocusonafewofthe“stories”andoutcomesforourPlacebeforeIlookaheadatafewofthefuturechallengesasIseethemforourCouncil.

BlabyDistrictCounciloffices

47414 BLAB Leaders Statement 2012.indd 1 16/05/2012 11:05

A Taste of Our AchievementsVibrant Places – Sustaining and Improving the Environment

• WorkedinpartnershipwiththeCountyCounciltoputinplacethefundingtosupportdeliveryof12affordableruralhousesinSapcote.

• AchievedaGreenAppleawardfortheCouncils“Time4Change”programmethroughwhichweachievedstaffineveryareaoftheCouncil’soperationstobuyintothisprocess.Injustover9monthsoftheprogrammebeinginitiated,theCouncil’sutilityconsumptionfellby18.5%acrossallsites,equatingtoasavingof£25,769.AnecdotalevidencealsosuggestsnewbehaviourpracticesarebeingadoptedbystaffandCouncillorsathome.ThisprojectissustainableandnowbeingrolledouttootherareasoftheCouncil’sassetsandoperationtomaintainfurtherreducedenergyconsumptionandcosts.

• AchievedaGoldawardforour“MotorvateCarbonReduction”programmewhichdemonstrateda20.7%absolutereductionand18.7%marketadjustedreductioninitsCO2emissionsfromthe2008-09baselineyear.ThesewereachievedthroughtheCouncil’swillingnessinbeingabletotrialandintroducetechnologieswhichcanreducethecarbonintensityofthecommercialfleetandencouragemileagereductionwithintheoperationsofthegreyfleet.

• InstalledenergyefficiencymeasuressuchassolarpanelsatthePavilion.TheCouncilprovidedadisplayscreenformembersofthepublictoviewtheCouncil’scarbonreductionwhichhasbeenachievedasadirectresultoftheinstallation.Thishasalreadydeliveredareturnof1744kwhofelectricbetweenDecember11toMarch12.

• IntroducedautomaticmeterreadingsatalltheCouncil’smainownedassetsthroughwhichtheCouncilisnowabletoaccuratelymonitorandidentifyexcessutilityusageandasaresultreduceutilityusagefurtherwhereexcessisdetected.

• GreenTravelworkhascontinuedtoprovidetheCouncilwithadditionalfacilities.Recentlyjustunder£4000wasawardedtotheCouncil,andthiswasmatchfundedtoprovideabudgettoimproveshowerfacilities.TherearenowadditionallockersandcyclesheltersbeinginstalledattheMainOfficesforstafftouse,andmembersofthepublicnowhavecyclestandstoutiliseoutsidetheMainOffices.

• Purchasedourfirstdieselhybridstreetcleansingvehiclesothatweminimiseourimpactontheenvironment.TheCouncilisstillawaitingdeliveryofthevehiclesolookforwardtothefuturereductionsexpectedfromthevehicle.

• ProducedadraftGreenSpaceStrategywhichhasrecentlybeenissuedforconsultationwithpartners.Thisdocumentwillimprovethewaywemanage,maintainanddevelopgreenspaceinthedistrict.

• WehavecontinuedtoworkinpartnershipwithBlabyParishCouncil,LeicestershireCountyCouncilandlocalbusinessestofurtherimproveBlabyTownCentre.

• Supportedthe11ParishCouncilsandmeetingsinthesouth-westofthedistrict(FosseVillages)sothattheirworkontheFosseVillagesNeighbourhoodPlancanprogressandshapeourlearningaboutneighbourhoodplanning.

• PartnershipworkingwithParish/TownCouncilsandotherstakeholdershasbeendevelopedtoensurethatmoniesreceivedfromdevelopercontributions(S106)aremadeavailabletobestmeettheneedsofthecommunity.ExamplesofthisincludeworkingwithWhetstoneParishfortheWarwickRoadplaygroundandcontributionspassedtoSapcoteParishCouncilinrecognitionoftheinvestmentinnewchangingfacilities.

• ProgressedtheplanningCoreStrategyandconsultedontheCouncil’svisionformeetingitsfuturehousingandgrowthneedssothatthisCouncilismoreabletodeliversustainablegrowth.

• WorkedwithpartneragenciestoruncommunitysafetyroadshowsandpromotethetakeupofSmartwateracrossthedistrictinorderthatourresidentsfeelBlabyisasafeplacetoliveworkandvisit.

• UptotheendofFebruary1,121lesscasesofantisocialbehaviourhavebeenreportedtoagenciesacrossBlabyDistrict.

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A Taste of Our AchievementsHealth and Well Being for All

• SetuptheBlabyStayingHealthyForumwhichwillfocusonhealthinequalitiesinthedistrictandtargetresourcestoreducethese.

• Delivered109DisabledFacilitiesGrants(DFG)sothatagreaternumberofdisabledpeoplewereabletoremainintheirhomes.

• Securedfundingtodeliver4waystowarmthandprovided6emergencyheatinggrantssothatveryvulnerablehouseholdscouldbewarmthiswinter.

• ToplocalauthorityintheLeicestershire&RutlandWorkplaceChallengewhichencouraged97membersofstaffandCouncillorstobemorephysicallyactive.

• Secured£1monbehalfofthe7LeicestershireDistrictsfromthePrimaryCareTrusttoincreasethenumberofdisabledpeoplewhocanbeassistedtolivesafelyandindependentlyintheirhomes.

• FundedawatersupplytoAPlacetoGrow.• ActiveTogetherProjectdeliveredactivitiesto16,298attendeeswiththesessionscosting£1.08per

headrepresentingexcellentvalueformoney.• Minimisedtheriskstoindividualsandplacesbycoordinatingactionplansdevelopedatthe

VulnerablePersonsandPlacesForum–whichhasbeenrecognisedasgoodpracticebythePolice.• Deliveredthe2ndAnnualBlabySportsAwardseventwithover200peopleattending.The

eventrecognisesthedistrict’syoungpeople,volunteers,clubsandofficialswhohavemadeanoutstandingcontributiontolocalsport.

• Secured£89,591ofexternalfundingtodelivertheBlabySport&PhysicalActivityin2012/13,thiswillbeknownlocallyasActiveTogetherBlaby.

• RanOlderPersonsforumwhichcontinuestomeetonaquarterlybasisandiswellattended.Theforumcontinuestoincludeagendaitemsthatareinformativetomembersandbeneficialtothewiderpopulation.Theforumcontinuestoactasanopportunityforolderpeopletohaveavoiceregardingservicesrelatingtotheirhealthandwellbeing.Relevantmattersarecommunicatedtotheappropriateauthoritiesandfeedbackisprovided.TheOlderPersonGuidehasrecentlybeenrevisedfor2012/13andisaninformationbooklettoservicesandactivitiesforpeoplelivingintheBlabyDistrict.

• DeliveredsomeexcellentcommunityeventswithintheDistrict,suchas,aFamilyOlympicDayatBouskellPark(over500peopleattending),SpooktacularEventatFosseMeadows(400peopleattending)andaSportReliefevent(1200peopleattending).

• TheCouncil’sExerciseReferralSchemecontinuestogrowwith254patientsbenefitingfromtheHealthImprovementservice.

• TheSportingChangementalhealthdropinsessionsalsocontinuetogrowandarearealsuccessstoryonaWednesdaymorningprovidingavaluableservicetothosewhoneedsupportwithmentalhealthandassociateddifficulties.

• MaximisedusageoftheDiscretionaryHousingPaymentFund(DHP)andprovidedawarenesstrainingtootherlocalauthoritystafftoensurethatresidentsingreatestneedreceivethefinancialassistancefromthisfundthattheydeserve.

• BB19hasdeliverededucationalprogrammesonsexualhealth,drugs,alcoholandsmokingcessation.• 27childrenandyoungpeoplewhohavewitnesseddomesticabuseorwhoseparentsaresubstance

dependanthavebeensupportedbythechildren’sworkerandwehavesuccessfullysecuredfundingforthisposttocontinueuntilMarch2013.ThishasbeenidentifiedasgoodpracticebyanindependentreportcompletedbyVictimSupport.

• 26individualswithsubstanceuseissueshavebeensupported.AlongsidethiswehaveestablishedanalcoholsupportgroupacrossBlaby&Hinckley&Bosworth.

• Firstcontactschemehasseen204formsbeingcompletedresultingin742referralstodifferentagenciesforsupport.

• FulllaunchofthenationalFoodHygieneRatingSchemeallowingconsumerstobefullyinformedbeforechoosingwheretoeatinthedistrict.

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A Taste of Our AchievementsAccess to Quality Provision for Children and Young People

• TheHealthandCommunityServicesteamcontinuetodeliveradiverseandwellattendedrangeofactivitiesforchildrenandyoungpeoplebetweentheagesof3monthsoldto18yrsold,attractingengagementwithover2000youngpeopleacrossthedistrictwhoattendsessionsonaweeklybasisandthroughouttheschoolholidayperiods.AttendancehasbeenachievedviatheBB19bus,theBASEActivityguide,youthworkandcommunitysafetyinitiativestogetherwiththePavilionHolidaySchemes.

• PositiveActivitiesReferralScheme(PARS)launchedtoworkwithyoungpeopleatriskofoffending.Theschemehashad55youngpeopleaccessingtheschemeandworkedwitharangeofagencies.

• PartnershipwithGlenParvaYoungOffendersInstitutetoencouragerecyclingamongstinmates.• DeliveredapprenticeshipswithinBlabyD.Cwhichishelpingyoungpeopleattainqualifications,

whilstacquiringessentialexperiencewithintheworkplace.• MentoringarrangementsinschoolsthroughLeicestershireCareshelpingtoincreaseknowledge

andshareskills.• 3,166youngpeoplehavebeenengagedwithaboardtheBB19bus.• ThroughallocationofS106monieshaveenabledParishestodeliverenhancedplayfacilities.• ThroughCommunitySafetyPartnershipfundedChildren’sWorkerwhoworkswithintroubledfamilies.• TheHuncoteHornetsBMXclubarenowcompetingregionallyandnationallyandhaveover40

activememberswhoareagedbetween5and18.• PromotedtheStonhamSupportedLodgingsSchemethroughContactmagazineandhostedthe

steeringgrouptoincreasethenumberoflocalhostswhocanprovideaccommodationtoyoungpeople.

• BlabyledthewayinsecuringfundingforaneducationalprogrammeacrossBlabyDistrict,Oadby&WigstonandHinckley&Bosworthwhichsawover3,000pupilsreceivinginformationonawholerangeoftopicsincludinganti-socialBehaviour,alcohol,drugs,bullyingandhealthyrelationships.

Blaby District Youth Council


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A Taste of Our AchievementsHigh Quality, Responsive, Efficient and Valued Public Services

• Triallingtenantfinder–Improvingaccesstorentedhousing.• Purchasede-learningpackagetoincreaseaccesstolearningtoallstaff.• HostedSouthLeicestershirelandlordforumwhichachievedhighattendancefromLandlordsand

enabledimprovedsharedknowledgeandunderstandingandencouragedmoreLandlordstorentpropertiesinthearea.

• RolledoutSafeguardingtrainingincludingasessionforMembers.• Provided£1mtoenablefirsttimebuyerstoobtain95%mortgages.(LocalAuthorityMortgageScheme).• ImprovedBlabyServiceShoptoenablegreateraccesstoawiderrangeofservicesforour

residents.• Deliveredefficiencysavingsof£2506byreducingelectricity,gasandwaterconsumptionatthe

Pavilion,whilstincreasingincomebyover60%in3years.• IntroducedfortnightlytextileandsmallelectricalappliancerecyclingwithMIND.• Positivefeedbackfromresidentssurvey–97%ofpeoplelivinginBlabyDistrictweresatisfiedwith

theirrefusecollectionservice,96%weresatisfiedwithdoorsteprecyclingand93%werehappywithhowtheirlocalparksandopenspacesaremaintained.Whenaskedabouthowwellpublicservicesareperforming,89%ofrespondentsweresatisfiedwith90%feelingthatpublicservicesgivegoodvalueformoney.

• ContinuedsuccessofsharedserviceinitiativesincludingLandCharges,ICTandInternalAudit.• TwoMembersattendedLocalGovernmentLeadersAcademy.• InOctober2011ourclosepartnerCommunityActionBlabyDistrictcompletedalegalmerger

withCommunityActionOadby&Wigstoninordertodevelopanewstronger,moresustainableservicedelivery,socialenterpriseandcommunitydevelopmentorganisationfortheresidentsofOadby&WigstonandBlaby.Therolloutofthemergeriscurrentlybeingimplemented,BlabyDistrictCouncilhasmadeatransitionalpaymentof£22.5ktosupportthenewCommunityActionPartnershiporganisation,NeilBaker,thenewChiefExecutivehasrecentlystartedandwelookforwardtocontinuingoursuccessfulpartnership.

• RegularServiceusereventshavebeenheldthathaveincludedworkshopsonmoneymanagementandfindingthebestutilitydeals.

• TherevisedapproachtoNewMemberInductionreceivedpositivefeedback.• Increasedincomegeneratedfromincreasesinrefuse&recyclingincome,returnoninvestments

throughtheCouncil’streasurymanagementandadditionalincomefromtheutilisationofcarparksandincomegeneratedthroughthedevelopmentcontrolfunction.

• FirstauthoritytosubmitaccountsundernewInternationalFinancialReportingStandards.• CouncilTaxcollectionrateof98.8%andacollectionrateof99.97%forBusinessRates.• Increasedaccessandcommunicationbywayofsocialmediausage.• Furtherincreasedtheavailabilityofconvenientandstraightforwardelectronicpaymentsfor

customers.• PositiveactionwithintheBenefitTeamhasresultedinincreasedincomethroughimproved

overpaymentrecoveryratesandthecontinuedmaximisationofrewardincomefromthelocalauthorityerrorincentiverewardscheme.

• Sicknessabsencereducedagainfromanaverageof7.04daysto6.36daysduring2011/12.• Enhancedcaseloadmanagementandthesharingofinformationwiththepolicethroughutilisinga

shareddatabase• ChoiceBasedLettingstrainingeventforserviceprovidersheldaimedatincreasingaccessto

housingforhomelessorvulnerablepeople.• BlabyandHinckley&BosworthCommunitysafetypartnershipsinformallymergedtoensurewe

couldofferefficientbuteffectiveresponsestocommunitysafetyissues,atoperationallevelthishasincludedjoinedupcrimepreventioncampaigns.


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Delivering Priorities and Improvements for Local People by Building our Reputation and

Challenging Ourselves

ThisyearhasseensomesignificantdevelopmentsinpartnershipworkingacrosstheCountywithafarmorepragmaticapproachinplaceintermsofdoingtherightthingattherightlevel.IcontinuetoChairBlabyTogetherandrepresentthisCouncilatlocal,county,regionalandnationallevelsothatBlabyhasavoiceandinfluencespartnersandpeers.InparticularourworkonhealthimprovementandinfluencingthechanginghealthsystemhasbeenusedbybodiessuchastheDistrictCouncilNetworkandNewLocalGovernmentNetworktosupportothercouncilswork.

Ourreputationforbeingpragmatic,doingthingsquickly,efficientlybecauseofourSystemsThinkingapproachisincreasinglynoticedandfollowedbyothers.OurworktoimprovesomeofourfrontlineservicesisbeingshowcasedasindustrybestpracticeandothersarecomingtoBlabytoseewhatwedo.But,whilstthisisgoodwemustnotrestonourlaurels–aSystemsThinkingorganisationneverstopshuntingoutwaystoimproveperformanceandcutoutwaste,hencesomeofthechangesthathavebeenrecentlyputinplaceintermsofhowourPerformanceTeamworksinBlaby

Icontinuetoleadworkwithmemberstostrengthenourapproachtoprioritysetting,performanceimprovementandchallenge.IrecognisethatforsomemembersoutsidetheCabinetthatengagementinworkaroundkeyissuesislimitedandwillbeworkingwithmynewCabinettoputinplacesomekindofsoundingboardorgrouparoundeachportfolioasoneofourtoolstodevelopknowledgeacrossCouncil.AnysuchapproachwillnotundermineourapproachtoScrutinywhichisamodelforothercouncilsandofwhichIamrightlyproud.

Future PrioritiesOurSustainableCommunityStrategyandCorporatePlansetsouttheCouncil’sprioritiesforthenextfewyears.IhighlightbelowafewofthesethatIfeelarecriticaltoourcontinuingsuccessasacommunityleader.

• DeliveringourvisionforthefuturedevelopmentofBlabythatbalanceslocalismwiththefutureneedsofpeopleandcommunitiesinBlabyintermsofjobsandhomes.

• BeingveryclearaboutwhattypeofCouncilwewanttobeinthefuture,whatserviceswedeliverandhowwedothissothatthisCouncilhasafinanciallyviableandsustainableroleintothefuture.

• Makingourbuildingsreal“CommunityHubs”sothatpeoplecanaccessservicestogetherwhentheyneedthem.

• Makingrealityof“localitycommissioning”sothatthiscouncilincreasinglyshapesthedeliveryofjoinedupserviceswhicharebestdeliveredatalocallevel,beitworkwithTroubledFamiliesoraroundneighbourhoodmanagement.


Managing ResourcesInmylasttwoAnnualReportstoCouncilIhavetalkedabout“unprecedentedtimesintermsoftheworld’sfinancialpressuresandsystems”.Itseemsthattheunprecedentedtimesarestillwithus.IamproudofhowBlabyhasplannedahead,reshapedhowitdoessomethingstodrivedowncosts,andcontinuedtodeliverimprovedservicesinmanyareasdespitethecuts.ThisisareflectiononthehardworkofMembersandstaffwhojustgetonanddotherightthings.

Wehavemorechangestomakebutourprudentapproachtoputtingasideresourcesto“investtosave”meansthatwecanchangeovertimeinawaythatbuildsservicesandcommunities.

Ourstaffcontinuetoserveuswellandimpressmewiththeirdeterminationtomakeadifferenceforlocalpeople.Thestaffingreviewsthathavebeendeliveredoverthepastyearhavestrippedoutcosts,focussedonprioritiesandimprovedsystems.PartofmyroleasLeaderistomakesurethatthecultureandstyleofourCouncilsupportsgoodteamwork,motivatedstaffandrealisticambition.

Celebrating Blaby DistrictBlaby does things because they need doing, not just because they win awards.

ThisistrueofthepeopleinourcommunitiesaswellbuttheAnnualAchievementsAwardsforOutstandingAchievementsisourchancetosaythankyou.Weheldthe8thAwardCeremonylastyearanditwasevenbetterthantheyearbefore.

But,eventhoughwedon’toftenputourselvesforwardforawardswedogetgiventhem.LastyeartheCouncilwaspubliclyrecognisedforarangeofawards,someofwhicharehighlightedaboveinthetables.

Next StepsThisyearwillbechallengingbutthatisnothingnew.Wewillkeepourfocusondeliveringmorewithless,becomeevenmorefocussedonwhatisapriority,bestrategicandwiseinrelationtoourdecisionsaroundgrowthandsharingresourcesandsupportourpartnersworkbypracticallydeliveringlocalityworkinginsomekeyareas.Ihavenodoubtthat2012/13willbeagoodyear.

Ernie White LeaderBlabyDistrictCouncil

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47414 blab leaders statement 2012 … · resources available to fund public services, increasing...

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