To consider any communications to be submitted by the Mayor or the Chief Executive.
Minutes:
(a) Planning and Building Control Service – Customer Service Excellence Accreditation
The Executive Director Core Services was pleased to announce that the Planning and Building Control Service had retained the Customer Service Excellence accreditation for a further year. The assessor awarded the Service a ‘Compliance Plus’ standard for demonstrating excellence in six categories including:
· Corporate commitment to putting the customers at the heart of service delivery
· Protecting customers privacy
· Improving the range, content and quality of the information the Service provided
All staff involved were thanked and particular thanks were extended to Paul Doherty (Group Leader, Planning Building Control and Enforcement) and Mark Caddick (Senior Planning and Building Control Assistant) who co-ordinated the assessment on behalf of the Service, which demonstrated the Service’s commitment to reflecting the Council’s values in all that they did.
Paul Doherty and Mark Caddick were present in the Chamber this morning.
The Mayor and Members of the Council expressed their congratulations to all concerned in the usual manner.
(b) Celebrating Excellence in Construction Awards 2018
The Executive Director Core Services reported that projects in Barnsley had enjoyed particular success at the Celebrating Construction in South Yorkshire Awards recently.
Henry Boot had won the Collaborative Working Award for its work with the Council on The Glassworks Project. Congratulations were extended to Henry Boot Project Manager, Ryan O’Laughlin and to the Council’s Project Manager Sarah McHale (Town Centre Major Projects Officer) for their hard work and commitment. It was hoped that the project would win many more awards in the coming years.
Congratulations were also extended to Karen Temple (Head of Contracts and Procurement) and her team at NPS for winning ‘Project of the Year’ for the renovation of a derelict building at Elsecar Heritage Centre and the Training Award for its work with apprentices.
The Mayor and Members of the Council expressed their congratulations to all concerned in the usual manner.
(c) Reserve Forces and Cadets Association – Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award
The Executive Director Core Services reported that at the awards night in Hull on the 22nd November, 2018, attended by himself and Councillor Hayward (Armed Forces Champion), the Council had been awarded a Silver Employer Recognition (ERS) Award for the support it offered its Armed Forces community across the Borough.
The Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award was given ty the Ministry of Defence to employers who supported military personnel with the aim of inspiring other organisations to do the same.
The Council had been nominated for the award by colleagues from the Voluntary Sector who had worked with it in taking forward the Armed Forces Community Covenant, and recognised the efforts of all services and partners.
The award came at a time when Barnsley was looking for ways to develop its offer under the Covenant so hopefully would provide further motivation in this work.
Councillor Hayward responded in his capacity as Armed Forces Champion by stating that this was an exceptional award particularly in view of the fact that the Council had been nominated, as stated by the Executive Director, by representatives of the voluntary sector and on merit for the work undertaken by the Council. His hope was that in future years the Council would be honoured by a gold award.
The Mayor and Members of the Council expressed their congratulations to all concerned in the usual manner.
(d) Inspection of Children’s Social Care Services
The Executive Director Core Services reported that a recent Ofsted Inspection had found Barnsley Children’s Social Care Services to be good across all the four judgement areas namely:
· The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families
· The experience and progress of children who need help and protection
· The experience and progress of children in care and care leavers
· Overall effectiveness
To quote from the report:
‘Services for children in Barnsley are good and there has been a steady improvement at successive inspections since 2012. Children are at the heart of strategic thinking, decision-making and operational practice, which leads to good quality services from a skilled and motivated workforce. The resolute focus on improving outcomes for children is shared across the partnership and is underpinned by political commitment and financial investment and a self-evaluation that shows leaders know their services well.’
Congratulations and thanks were extended to all staff within the Service and Louise Danks (Team Manager), Hannah Sanderson (ASYE Social Worker), Julie Dickinson (Project Officer), Tessa Brown (Service Manager Assessment and Strong Families and Melissa Tupling (ASYE Social Worker) were present in the Chamber this morning.
The Mayor and Members of the Council expressed their thanks to all involved in the usual manner.
Councillor Miller, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place asked to place his own personal thanks to all staff who had worked so hard to ensure that the Council received these awards. He made particular reference to the work of Henry Boot who had invested so much within the Town Centre and with The Glassworks. He referred to their introduction of apprenticeship schemes for young people within the Borough which gave them the opportunity to develop skills and which was particularly pleasing. He was also pleased at NPS for the recognition of their work in developing Building 2 at the Elsecar Heritage Centre, another partnership project in association with Museum Services and of course it was always good to be recognised for developing staff and young people who had worked so hard to show their skills for future employment.
Councillor Bruff, Cabinet Spokesperson for People (Safeguarding) also added her personal thanks to all award winners but made particular reference to the Authority’s Care Staff at such a fantastic achievement in the recent Ofsted Inspection. Once again she was proud to pay tribute, on behalf of all Members, to the fabulous staff who continued to work tirelessly under very difficult circumstances at a time of financial constraint. She was also proud to be part of a Council that was so committed to ensuring that the children, young people and vulnerable people were well looked after and cared for.
Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE, Leader of the Council, also added his thanks to all staff and partners at such wonderful achievements. It was great to see Barnsley doing so well and to see what could be achieved by working in partnership for the residents of the borough. He asked to add his thanks particularly to the Children’s Social Care Services Staff for all their hard work in achieving the good Ofsted result. Not only was the Service judged good across all categories, it was bordering on outstanding which was a judgement that he thought the service should have achieved. Nonetheless, it was a fantastic achievement in very challenging circumstances given the levels of deprivation and social challenges within the area. To do this also within the current financial constraints was outstanding. This had been achieved with the current leadership and management involving Rachel Dickinson (Executive Director People) and her Management Team and staff of the Service who always went further than could be expected and made a significant difference . A huge thanks was expressed to each and every member of staff involved in this achievement.
Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE also reported that there had also been a further Ofsted Inspection of Place based Services for Adult Skills and this had been judged as good and thanks were expressed also to Matt Gladstone (Executive Director Place) and his staff at this success. The Children’s Social Care Services and Adult Skills Services was an example of integrated service delivery and demonstrated how the authority looked after children/people as they moved into and through Adulthood.
In addition, he reported that a ‘good’ judgement had also been received from the recent CQC Inspection for the Re-enablement Services within the Communities Directorate and thanks were then expressed to the Wendy Lowder (Executive Director Communities) and her team. He commented that this was the way in which the Authority protected the older people of the Borough and gave them the quality of life they deserved.
A further peer challenge/inspection had taken place by a regional Social Services Director of the Authority’s Adult Services and this too had been judged as good.
These results were a positive assurance to staff for their hard work and commitment but also for the residents of the Borough for whom the Council served. The Council could not, of course, be complacent and would strive to do even better. There were, however, further challenges to come with the spending review and the Fair Funding review which may give rise to further financial challenges for the Authority. The primary role of the Council was to look after the residents of Barnsley and in this respect it was great to see everyone working together to improve services delivered those residents.
The Authority had also had the first stages of a review of the Equalities and Diversity approach to the delivery of services. That initial review had judged the Authority’s approach as excellent and whilst Members could be proud of the work being undertaken the Authority could not be complacent.
Whilst he thanked each and every one of the staff he would still be coming back to ask how things could be done better and improved as the one thing that motivated everyone in this chamber was to do their best for Barnsley.
Councillor Howard (Cabinet Spokesperson without Portfolio) added her own thanks to those involved in the wide ranging achievement awards referred to today. She also expressed her particular thanks to Henry Boot not only for their apprenticeship schemes but also for the investment into the community. For example Saturday 1st December, 2018 was the Town Hall Open Day and all the Christmas presents to be presented by Father Christmas had been sponsored by that company. This would allow families who had limited resources to be able to come to the Town Hall, have a free day and obtain a gift for their children.
The Mayor asked to place on record his thanks to all Councillors and staff for all their own hard work to enrich Barnsley and make it a fantastic place in which to live and work.
(d) Staff Retirements
The Executive Director Core Services reported that this would be the final meeting of the Council before one of his senior colleagues and well known Senior Officer Jeremy Sykes (Service Director Assets) retired from the Council at the end of next month. Jeremy had been working with him as Service Director Assets in the Core Services Directorate since last April but he had worked with him professionally for a considerable number of years in various roles and he had been an outstanding colleague.
He had also enjoyed Jeremy’s company in a personal capacity as fellow member of Silkstone Golf Club where he hoped he had forgiven him for his inadequacies.
He was very pleased that Jeremy was in the Chamber this morning so that Members of the Council could all express their huge thanks and appreciation to him for his tremendous service to the Authority. On behalf of all the Senior Management Team and Officers he expressed thanks to Jeremy for his service and wished him a long and happy retirement. He was sure that the Leader and other Members would want to express their own words of appreciation.
Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE responded by stating that before commenting on the retirement of Jeremy Sykes, he wanted to refer to another member of staff who was also leaving the Authority and that was Anne Untisz (Markets and Town Centre Group Leader). Anne had been working for the Authority for 22 years firstly within the Arts and Cultural areas prior to working and managing the Town Centre and new Markets project in many ways alongside Jeremy Sykes. She had done a brilliant job within sometimes difficult circumstances helping to keep people together and smooth the way towards the development and construction of the new facilities. He asked to place on record his thanks and appreciation for her services and to wish her and her family all the best for the future.
Turning then to Jeremy Sykes, he commented that Jeremy had started work with the Council in July 1979 as an Engineering Technician. He learned his trade under other former long standing Members of Staff, Ted Dinsdale, Howard Newton and Terry Boone. By 2000 he had become a Group Engineer and also a registered Environmental Engineer at a time when such issues were not on the ‘agenda’ as they were today. This was a huge step forward for Jeremy but also for the Council. He became Head of Asset Management in 2006 and Head of Strategic Property in 2011and had helped to deliver lots of projects around Barnsley including the Biomass project, the creation of NPS and the LIFT Centres which had given Barnsley GP practices and others some of the best facilities for the residents of the Borough. In recent years he had undertaken much of the work on The Glassworks project and the regeneration of the Town Centre and the fact that this was so successful was in no small part down to the work of Jeremy. Once this was completed in two years’ time everyone would realise what he had achieved not just over the 39 years he had worked for Barnsley, a lifetimes dedication to the Authority, but for those key projects in which he had been involved and which were helping to improve the town for the better. As the Executive Director Core Services had said Jeremy was a keen golfer, was keen on horse racing and indeed owned a race horse and many would remember his key role as one of the national leaders of the Real Ale Campaign. He had also been involved with the Barnsley Beer Festivals. He was well-respected by both staff and by Councillors and he was also someone who was proactive who would always find a way of getting things done if at all possible. Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE then thanked him for his hard work for the Council over the years and for all that he had achieved.
Councillor Miller, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place commented on the tremendous work undertaken by Anne Untisz in the markets. She was someone who always delivered and he thanked her for all her hard work for the Authority. He was sad to see her go as she was such a dedicated employee. Referring to Jeremy Sykes he wished to place on record his personal thanks and appreciation for his services to the Council. He was someone who could be relied on to get things done and he wished him well for the future.
Councillor Gardiner, Cabinet Spokesperson for Services echoed the sentiments of the Leader and Councillor Miller and also asked to place on record his appreciation for the hard work and dedication of Jeremy Sykes who he had worked with over many years.
Councillor Andrews BEM, Deputy Leader, asked to place on record his thanks to Jeremy Sykes for all the work he had undertaken on the Hoyland Project. This had not been an easy task, but was now coming to fruition. It had been a pleasure to work with Jeremy and he wished him well for the future.
The Mayor also added his thanks to Jeremy Sykes for his service and dedication to the Council.
The Mayor and Members of the Council expressed their thanks and appreciation to Anne Untisz and Jeremy Sykes in the usual manner.