Public reports pack PDF 3 MB - Blaby District Council

PRIORITY 3
Ensuring that the right people with the right skills deliver excellent services for Blaby.
Athena, the Councils e-learning development tool was launched over this period. It was
launched with a mandatory course on Data Protection which will minimise risks to the Council
with regards to information and data handling. We are working with a number of departments to
get more courses published which will encourage financial and resource efficiencies.
A staff survey has been carried out to assess the satisfaction and well being of employees. The
return rate was a very positive 72%. An away day held with SLT considered the information
received and ways of moving this forward. An action plan to address issues raised will be
compiled following a series of staff workshops in November.
A SLT away day also starting formulating the Councils People Strategy which will inform training
needs for employees to deliver excellent services
PRIORITY 4
Deliver efficient and cost effective support services.
A Systems Thinking review into the method of booking meeting rooms has resulted in potential
savings of 22 weeks of staff time per year. For people requesting the rooms there is a total
saving of 6 weeks approx across the organisation. The main individual beneficiaries are Property
Services saving 7.5 weeks approx p.a., Customer Services saving 4.5 weeks approx p.a. and
Caretakers 3 weeks approx. Property Services have used this ‘extra’ time, to offer more support
to Building Control with the initial processing of applications requesting Building Regulations
Approval. Caretakers are able to deal with their routine tasks with fewer interruptions and
Customer Services have more time to deal with their other work.
PRIORITY 5
Improve opportunities for residents to engage in sport, leisure, recreation and cultural
activities.
Sport, Culture & Recreation
The Positive Activities Referral Scheme (PARS) continues to grow with agencies referring young people
at risk of offending to the scheme for the young people to take part in physical activity along with
educational programmes to support them in moving away from ASB. PARS has recently been highlighted
in a national publication by Sport England as an example of best practice.
A revised Green Space Strategy has been developed and further consultation is now complete. The
revised document will be considered by Council in November. An action plan to deliver the key themes is
being finalised and our new green space management staffing structure is being implemented. The new
approach to managing green space is already seeing results as improvement projects at Bouskell Park
(car park) and Jubilee Park (fencing & car park) are being implemented.
The Council’s Sport & Physical Activity Commissioning Plan launched 14 new activities in this quarter
which has led to an increase in participation levels and percentage take-up rates.
The Council’s 3 rd Annual Sports Awards are being planned and we look forward to this successful event
taking place on Wed 21 st Nov at Brockington College.
The Pavilion
Q2 usage data provide evidence that more of our community are accessing Blaby’s leisure facilities.
Work is now taking place to profile our customers and permit a greater understanding of how we can
better reach into the community. The capital programme at the Pavilion remains a focus with a further
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Page 100
September 2012