Council receives glowing IIP praise for supporting staff

WEST Somerset Council has been praised for the way it supports staff and encourages initiatives, in a report by Investors in People specialist assessor Richard Sloane.
Mr Sloane renewed the council’s Investor in People (IIP) status for a further three years, commenting on the authority’s ‘outstanding ethos that encourages and supports initiative at all levels’.
He also said the authority was ‘welcoming and friendly, yet disciplined’ and ‘continuous improvement is at the heart of this excellent council’.
Mr Sloane said: “The council is bucking the trend where there is more evidence of an increase in poor management behaviour across many sectors, often as a result of concentrated focus on targets to the exclusion of valuing staff.
“It was a privilege to review this council in terms of its culture and commitment to investing in people.”
Investors in People UK is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills.
It works in partnership with organisations throughout the UK to improve their productivity and performance to help them realise their full potential.
Reviewers look at an organisation’s processes, conduct staff interviews, and monitor developments aimed to benefit staff, customers, and the organisation as a whole.
Council leader Councillor Keith Ross said: “We are delighted that IIP assessors and other external organisations recognised that throughout the changes of the last 18 months, the council has remained committed to investing in its staff.
“The council’s RECO training programme was praised for bringing staff together, while the advances under the council’s improvement plan, such as better leadership, management, and communication, closer cross-party working and an ongoing commitment to our staff’s continuing professional development, have been key to improving staff morale and providing a positive environment in which to work.
“The assessors also acknowledged that uniting staff in the new offices is bringing about further positive changes for the organisation itself, as well as for its customers.
“We are justifiably proud of our IIP standard being renewed and of what staff have achieved in the past 18 months.”
Staff said the council was compassionate and supportive in difficult domestic circumstances.
Because of this, staff went ‘the extra mile’ to support the council in times of need.
Workers felt appreciated and valued as individuals and as part of the team.
Acting head of paid service Adrian Dyer said: “Our staff are important to us and our customers.
“They have supported customers, senior staff, and members loyally and it is only right that they receive equal investment for their efforts.
“We have a hard-working team of professional people and we are delighted that the IIP assessors have acknowledged this.
“We are pleased to have retained the IIP standard and to have achieved such an excellent report.”

Urgent-only service from district council as it moves into new headquarters

PEOPLE are being advised that West Somerset Council will not be able to provide its full range of services on the day the authority moves into its new headquarters next month.
A reduced service will be available on Friday, September 5, while staff relocate to their new offices a few yards away in Killick Way, Williton.
The council’s acting head of paid service, Adrian Dyer said: “There will be staff in the customer centre and the current offices in Williton who will try and assist with urgent inquiries.
“However, they will not be able to take payments such as council tax or business rates because the IT systems will be closed down.
“We will be working over the entire weekend to restore the IT systems and anticipate that full service will be resumed from 10 am on Monday, September 8.
“We urge anybody who feels this may cause them hardship to get in touch with our customer services team on 01643 703704 as soon as possible so we can help to resolve any issues.”
Information on services will be available on the council’s website at http://www.westsomerset.online.gov.uk/ throughout the weekend as this will not be affected by the move.
However, the telephone service will be limited and staff from all service sections, with the exception of customer services, will not be available on September 5.
Mr Dyer said: “We would appreciate it if people who need to make payments or need appointments with service staff call us now to arrange a convenient time.
“We ask people only to phone or visit the offices on Friday, September 5, if their call is urgent. We would like to thank people in advance for their patience.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to reassure people that the customer centre in Minehead is not closing.
“Like the new offices in Williton, it will be open for business on Monday, September 8.”
The council’s main contact number will remain the same - 01643 703704 - although the postal address will change to West Somerset House, Killick Way, Williton, Somerset, TA4 4QA.
West Somerset House will be open for business from 10am on Monday, September 8, and will then revert to its usual opening times of 8.30 am to 5 pm on Monday to Thursday, and 8.30 am to 4.30 pm on Fridays.
The customer centre in Summerland Road, Minehead, will be open from 9 am to 5 pm daily and can be contacted on the same telephone number.

• Our photograph shows West Somerset House under construction in Killick Way, Williton. Photo submitted.

Council cabinet considers backtracking on non-demolition of offices

THE future of West Somerset Council’s current offices in Williton will be reconsidered when the authority’s cabinet meets next Wednesday (May 7).
The council’s purpose-built new offices nearby in Killick Way are nearing completion and staff expect to move in during early June
Previously, the cabinet agreed not to demolish the existing offices and to place the buildings on the open market for sale.
However, having learned more about the risks associated with such a move, and the provision of replacement car parking, cabinet members will next week be recommended to have the property demolished after all.
Risks which have now come to light include:

• The retention of the building could have a negative impact on the original works programme and on other planned work
• Leaving the building as it is, irrespective of its end use, is likely to lead to a demand for increased car parking on site which might exceed the amount which could be provided by purchasing other nearby land – whereas, if demolished, the site will be used to replace car parking spaces
• The retention of the building would require a retrospective planning application for non-compliance with a previously approved planning condition, and although normal planning processes cater for such a situation it was not considered to be good practice

In addition, if the building was retained and a temporary non-compliance approval granted, there would be a significant risk that a satisfactory deal could not be negotiated concerning the purchase of additional car parking land.
The council could then find itself in permanent breach of the condition.
This, in turn, might mean that even if temporary non-compliance approval was agreed, the council could find itself under extreme pressure to pay more than acceptable for additional car parking land and/or accept offers less than reasonable for the building.
The cabinet meeting will be held at 6.30 pm in the in the Council Chamber, Williton, and recommendations from it will then be put to the full council at its annual meeting on Wednesday, May 14.