Transformational programme aims to create a leaner, fitter council

SWANSEA Council’s transformation programme which aims to create services which are leaner, fitter and more responsive to the communities they serve could be taking a step forward this week.

Important activities like the council’s civic building cleaning services and business support, including customer contact, are set to be transformed following a review of the way they currently operate.

The council’s outdoor centres are also set for change following an in-depth review which has looked at how they can best support schools and young people in the years to come.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said: “Over the last two years or so the council has made savings of around £50m, but there is still a lot more to do. Central Government and Welsh Government has made it clear austerity will continue and it’s being predicted that, due to increased pressure on services and reduced funding, we can expect to have to make savings of about £100m in the next few years.

“Even if we didn’t have these funding pressures we would still want to transform public services in Swansea to deliver on the priorities we share with the people of Swansea.

“That’s why recognised some time ago that salami slicing budgets would not work. Now we’ve agreed in-house transformation of services is the best option to deliver the efficient services our communities need and want.

“Thanks to our foresight we are ahead of the game and that’s why we’ve made a lot of progress transforming services through Sustainable Swansea – Fit for the Future, the council’s transformation programme.”

Cllr Stewart added: “We have to do this not only because we need to save money – but because otherwise the services would be lost altogether and for good – such is the scale of the cuts forced upon us.”

Proposed changes to in-house cleaning services, outdoor centres and business support feature in three commissioning reviews being seen by Cabinet. They will be followed by reviews of other services in the coming months.

Cllr Clive Lloyd, Cabinet Member for Transformation and Performance, said: “The commissioning review on business support aims to build on the millions of pounds of savings in back-office costs we have already achieved.

“Now we plan to further transform business support to create a single central service for all the council’s other services. It would reduce costs, improve efficiency and achieve results by doing things differently, particularly through using ICT and digital facilities.”

Cllr Christine Richards, Cabinet Member for Services for Children and Young People, said: “What lies behind the review of our outdoor activity residential centres is a determination to continue the valuable work staff do by developing a sustainable service that meets our customers’ needs.

“This will mean focussing on our centres at Rhossili and Port Eynon but will, unfortunately, mean closing our centre at Dan-y-Coed, which is no longer cost-effective. We will also be investing in a new centre manager to drive this important service forward.”

Andrea Lewis, Cabinet Member for Next Generation Services, added: “Our in-house non-school cleaning team do an excellent job and the standard of cleanliness at council buildings contributes to a positive reputation among visitors and the public alike. The modernisation plans contained in the review will help develop a sustainable in-house service so the team can continue with the good work.”

The purpose of a commissioning review is to take an in-depth look at each council service, think about what each will need to do in the years ahead and then work out how it can be done better.

This approach would ensure services are more flexible and responsive to people’s needs, tackle the challenge of reducing costs and deliver the results on the priorities the people of Swansea have set out.

Cllr Lloyd said: “At the same time we will be adopting a much more commercial approach to the way we deliver services and optimise all opportunities to generate income for the Council. Already there are some great examples of this taking place.

“We know residents agree with us that the old ways of simply cutting or stopping services is not the way forward. That is why we have adopted this commissioning review approach.”

The commissioning review process has been going on inside the council for a number of months and it has included wide consultation with staff, with trade unions and with partner organisations through the Local Service Board.

If the recommendations outlined in the commissioning reviews for business support, outdoor activity centres and non-school cleaning services are approved, further discussions with staff and trade unions will take place as the changes are implemented.