Rob's Weekly Round-Up

22 July, 2022

Dear colleagues,

I’d like to start my message this week with a sincere thank you to everyone for working through the exceptionally hot weather this week. I know it will have been particularly hard for those working in physically demanding roles but as I said last week the heat can take a toll whatever role you are working in. I hope you’ve all be able to enjoy the cooler temperatures as the week has progressed.

The Council passed a milestone on its digital journey this week as the first ever hybrid Cabinet meeting took place on Thursday. I joined the meeting in person from the Civic Offices and must say the technology was easy to use and the whole process ran very smoothly. I’d like to thank all those in our ICT Services and Democratic Services that worked on this to make it happen.

I hope many of you will have already taken the time to complete the latest Staff survey and on  Thursday we held a Survey engagement session at the Alps depot. This was another significant moment as it was the first large-scale in-person staff engagement exercise we have run since the pandemic. The surveys completed yesterday, along with all those submitted so far, will be hugely useful in helping us understand how we can do more to support staff. I’d like to thank all those that took the time to come along and complete the survey as well as the team that were there throughout the day to support the event. If you have not yet had chance to take part in the Staff Survey, you have until 08 August to do so. Every response we receive will help us better plan for the future so please to take the chance to have your say.

As is often the case this has been another week in which the Council’s great work has received some external recognition. South Point Primary School, Wales first zero carbon school, has won the RTPI Award for Planning Excellence. At the ceremony, the RTPI Chair, Rob Chichester, said the school “is an excellent example of partnership working and building in infrastructure at the start of a project to deliver a net zero school. Planners and the planning system have played a crucial role in the project management from inception to delivery. The team are also continuing to use learning from this project to inform further schemes.” 

This is yet more praise for a fantastic piece of work. As you’ll all know the opening of this new school in Rhoose has been one of the showpiece elements of our work to tackle climate change. This week, it was also great to see  our efforts in this field and the work of the Big Fresh Catering Company highlighted by the Future Generations Commissioner in her July newsletter. Another example of our work being recognised at a national level.

I am also very pleased to be able to share that the Council has this week been awarded the Defence Gold Employer Recognition Scheme Award. This award is given to organisations that employ and support those who serve in the armed forces, veterans and their families. Abi Warburton, our Veterans Coordinator, does a huge amount of work in this area and I know her efforts will have been a significant factor in the Council’s success.

This week has also seen the opening of the new community launderette in Cadoxton in Barry. The first scheme of its kind in the Vale.  The launderette which is attached to the Big Bocs Bwyd community kitchen, makes washing machines and tumble dryers available to anyone to use for free. The growing cost of living crisis is putting many families in situations where they must make impossible choices. The community launderette will give everyone a place to wash and dry their families clothes and the opportunity to access a range of other support at the same time. The scheme was funded thanks to some innovative use of grant money by our Strategy and Partnerships team and has been led by Hannah Coghill at Cadoxton Primary School. Hannah’s other work in the community has already had a huge impact and I have no doubt that this scheme will do exactly the same.

There are more examples of what makes our schools and the people who work in them great in the Schools Hero Award shortlist for this year’s Staff Awards. Voting is now open in this category. You can cast your vote now on StaffNet+. The shortlists for the other Hero awards will be announced on Monday. And don’t forget that tickets are now on sale for this year’s event.

Finally, I’d like to wish farewell to Tom Dodsworth in our Housing team who leaves the Vale of Glamorgan Council today. Tom’s work in recent years to support the resettlement of Syrian and more recently Ukranian refugees, as well as that to support ethnic minority communities during the pandemic, has been inspirational. The nature of his role means Tom’s work does not always get the fanfare it deserves but he has improved the lives of people who have faced incredible trauma. On behalf of them and the Vale of Glamorgan Council I would like to say diolch yn fawr and wish Tom all the best in his new role.

As always I’ll close by thanking you all for your efforts this week.

Diolch yn fawr pawb.

Rob.