www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Members Update - 25th January 2008
On the 16 January, seventeen members from the five authorities met at the second informal meeting of the Implementation Executive. The members agreed that keeping in touch with customers and communities was the top priority as we move towards establishing the new authority. Improving service delivery and making it easier for everyone to get the services they need were also agreed as key areas of work.
The monthly meetings of the Implementation Executive will become formal once the rules of the new organisation have been passed by Parliament - this is expected to happen in the next month. In the meantime, the Executive and officers working on the One Council project are absolutely committed to bringing us together to become One Council in April 2009.
George Batten
Transition Programme Director
Do you want to know more about One Council?
We want to make sure that you have the information you need to inform your parishes about the transition to One Council. It would be really helpful if you would let us know the questions that you would like answered or if you would like to discuss any issues please telephone the Programme Office on 01225 713017 or email onecouncil@wiltshire.gov.uk. Don’t forget you can visit the One Council for Wiltshire website for information.
Monthly Members Seminars
Monthly Members seminars are currently being organised to keep you updated on the progress of the workstreams towards becoming One Council. The first seminar on Area Boards was held in Devizes earlier this week (see workstream news below). The full programme of seminars will be published soon.
One Council for Wiltshire Website – Members Area
We are currently developing a Members area on the One Council for Wiltshire website where we will be posting details of seminars, meeting papers, newsletters and much more.
Parish and Town Council Meet and Greet Sessions – Spring 2008
Mrs Scott, Leader of the Council, has written to all Clerks notifying them that a further series of ‘Meet and Greet’ sessions will be held in the Spring to update Parish and Town Council representatives and discuss the progress towards One Council for Wiltshire. There will be five evening events which will start at 6.30 p.m. and last for approximately two hours. Due to the anticipated interest, we are asking that representation be limited to two Councillors. Details of dates, venues and times, together with booking procedure have been sent to the Clerks.
Changes to One Council structure
It has now been agreed that district Chief Executives and County's Corporate Leadership Team will meet, as the Implementation Team, to deal with One Council issues. Senior Officers from the county and district councils will continue to meet every two weeks and their team will now be known as the Programme Board.
Workstream news…..
Resources Workstream:
Each year, the Resources Department from Wiltshire County Council holds team days for staff. This year staff working in resources from all five authorities will be invited to attend the team days on 3 March and 4 March.
The team days will give staff from the five authorities theopportunity to get together and discuss issues that will affect them and to meet people from other teams.
Business Management Programme:
A special Wiltshire County Council cabinet meeting will be held on 11 February when a preferred bidder will be recommended, so that a decision can be made to award the BMP contract. The contract must be signed by the end of February 2008.
Frontline Services Workstream:
The scope of work for this project area is now well underway with the key focus on engaging all the frontline services in workshops, to determine what can be achieved by when and the programme of transformation for each service. The workshops will output draft project plans for each service area and will provide clarity of what needs to be done to ensure the continuation of frontline services throughout the transition period and to maintain performance levels. The Board has agreed that its members will champion the key prioritised services to provide support, positive challenge and to ensure delivery of the agreed actions.
Community Leadership and Governance (CL&G):
Almost 80 members attended a successful ‘Area boards’ seminar held at the Corn Exchange, Devizes on 21 January. The main discussions focussed on critical success factors from an Area Board’s point of view. Information that was available on the night can be viewed by clicking on the extranet
A report will be published and made available soon on the outcomes from the seminar.
Customer Focus
John Rogers, Partnership Programme Manager for the Wiltshire Customer First Partnership, has been appointed as the Customer Focus Workstream Manager.
Contact Details
By Post
Programme Office
Wiltshire County Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN
By Email:
By Telephone:
01225 713017
Notes:This is a communication from the Towards One Council Implementation Team on behalf of Kennet District Council, North Wiltshire District Council, Salisbury District Council, West Wiltshire District Council and Wiltshire County Council. Minutes of the Towards One Council Joint Implementation Board are available on the extranet or by contacting us at the Programme Office.
