Robs Weekly Round Up

15 November 2024

Hi all,

As I mentioned in my update at the start of the month, this week has seen the Council visited by a group of experts for our Panel Performance Assessment (PPA).

This was an exciting opportunity to get some fresh perspectives on how we are doing in key areas and has proven to be a really useful exercise.

We asked the panel to help establish whether certain steps being taken will allow us to become more outcome and future focused and increase our resilience in delivering key services to our residents.

Another aim was to get feedback on the Council’s leadership and important pieces of work like the Corporate Plan and Reshaping Programme.

Jac Bryant from the Council’s communications team has produced a fantastic video focusing on these topics.

That set the scene perfectly ahead of the panel’s arrival as it captures the best aspects of the Vale and sets out our ambitions for the future.

Under the Local Government and Elections Act, all Local Authorities are now required to have a PPA every five years.

Denbighshire and Ceredigion councils have already been visited by assessors so we were the third Local Authority in Wales to go through the process.

This was not an inspection, but an opportunity to benefit from the insights of experienced people from outside the organisation.

The process, which involved discussions with senior managers, focus groups and partners, provided some excellent feedback that will help us strengthen and sense check work already underway.

It will also be especially advantageous when it comes to the annual self-assessment carried out each year.

I’d like to thank all staff that met with the panel and helped prepare for their visit. Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi i gyd.

As I say, it has been a stimulating and productive four days and I look forward to learning more about the group’s findings once they have been shared with us.

This week also saw the Council join others around the world in remembering members of our Armed Forces who have lost their lives in conflict.

As normal, a ceremony was held outside the Civic Offices at 11am on Monday, where the Red Ensign Flag has been flying in the two weeks leading up to Armistice Day.

This flag denotes the service of the Merchant Navy and is flown next to the Cenotaph to commemorate those who died during the First and Second World Wars.

Lucy Butler, our Senior Planner, did sterling work to make sure a commemorative bench recognising Colwinston as a ‘Thankful Village’ was in place before Remembrance Sunday last weekend.

The bench, which was blessed by the chaplain, is much appreciated by the local community as are the efforts to install it so quickly. Well done Lucy.

Our Veteran’s Advice Officer Abi Warburton is heavily involved in supporting residents who have served in the military and was one of a group of colleagues who volunteered at the poppy stand in the Civic Officers.

Alex Morgan, Jaci Cilia, the Council Leader and Vale of Glamorgan Mayor were among the others who helped raise around £250, while the reception staff also helped with organisation.

Thanks to everyone who gave up their time for such a worthwhile cause.

Llanfair Primary School in Cowbridge held a Remembrance Service attended by MOD parents and grandparents.

Pupils were given a poppy to put a loved one’s name on before they were then laminated and put on display.

A year six pupil read out a remembrance poem and junior pupils laid five decorated stones for veterans, serving personnel, those who lost their lives, those still suffering and animals who helped in conflict.

Pupils also laid a poppy to remember their loved ones or people from the local areas and a minute’s silence was held.

The Council is very proud of the work we do to support veterans.

We were the first Local Authority in Wales to sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant, we hold Bronze Welsh Veterans Awards and Gold in the Employer Recognition Scheme.

The last few days have also seen the Council mark Wales Climate Week, which brings together people from across the public, private and voluntary sectors, along with the wider community to discuss sustainable practices.

Of course, protecting the environment is already high on our agenda as we continue to work on Project Zero, the Council’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2030.

This latest awareness event saw the return of our Cycle 2 Work scheme on a permanent basis.

Run in partnership with Cycle Solutions, this allows staff to purchase any bike through a monthly salary sacrifice.

Giving up a portion of salary to pay for a bike and maybe accessories allows a person to spread the cost interest-free and with no up-front payment.

Money is taken from an individual’s gross salary, so before tax, which also means they pay less Income Tax and National insurance.

On average, this salary sacrifice scheme has saved staff members £500 each on the cost of a bike.

Cycle Solutions offer a wide range of bikes and accessories, including e-bikes, so there are plenty of options to choose from.

Alongside the financial benefits of the scheme, Cycle 2 Work is also a great way to help the environment amidst the climate crisis.

It is possible for everyone to reduce their carbon footprint and cycling short journeys is one of the easiest ways to achieve this, while it also helps boost health and wellbeing.

More information can be found on the Cycle 2 Work website, while there is also an Employee Guide and Frequently Asked Questions section of the website.

The Project Zero hub, which can be found on the Council website, has recently been updated to cover the range of projects that contribute to our green objectives.

Among other items, it includes information about activity following a Climate Conversation event hosted by the Youth Council at the Memo Arts Centre in Barry in October last year.

That brought young people from across the County together with decision makers to discuss their experiences of waste and recycling, transport, their ambitions for the future and how these can be achieved.

Based on feedback from the event, the Council committed to a number of actions, including increasing the number of recycling bins and improving communication about community recycling and litter picking hubs, and the Youth Service recently reported on progress being made in these areas.

We only have to look at some of the breathtaking natural landscapes in the Vale to understand why protecting the environment is so important.

On the subject of that magnificent scenery, the Council’s Big Fresh Café at Penarth Pier Pavilion, features in a new book called the Coastal Café Guide.

That showcases the best places to eat by the sea and is another accolade for Big Fresh following the fantastic work that has been done since it was established as a standalone Local Authority Trading Company during the pandemic.

Big Fresh has helped make meals for partner schools more nutritious and allowed us to become one of the first councils in Wales to offer free meals to all primary school pupils.

Income has been generated through the café at the pier and another at Belle Vue Pavilion, alongside outside catering activities.

Surplus funds are then invested back into schools allowing them to finance a range of projects.

Well done Carole Tyley and all Big Fresh staff for this latest recognition.

The book is available to purchase on its own or part of a gift pack from the café at the pier and I’m sure would make a wonderful Christmas present.

Talking of Christmas, I and Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) colleagues have recently discussed working arrangements over the festive period.

As the Council has adopted a more flexible and hybrid approach to working, the plan is to operate in the same way as last year and close our office facilities for non-essential frontline services between Christmas and New Year.

This means offices shutting from 6pm on Tuesday 24 December through to the morning of Thursday 2 January 2025, a period that covers three bank holidays on December 25 and 26 and January 1.

Council services will still operate over this spell, particularly frontline provision in social care, waste management, emergency planning, other neighbourhood-based services, housing support and our call centre Contact One Vale.

As was the case 12 months ago, it will be down to manager’s discretion to ensure there is sufficient staffing cover over this week.

Also, those who work remotely can continue doing so when offices are closed should they wish.

It may also be possible to use leave to take advantage of some or all of the extended break depending on the demands of the service.

Anyone who doesn’t normally work from home and doesn’t want to take leave can have equipment to allow them to work remotely.

The Council is a large organisation of many staff working in a wide variety of different roles.

It is important to note that this is an office closure not a service closure and specific arrangements will need to be put in place depending on an individual’s circumstances.

Having said that, I would encourage anyone to take a break if they want to and are able and for manager’s to be as accommodating as possible.

Thank you once again for your efforts this week.

They are very much appreciated.

Diolch yn fawr iawn,

Rob.