geoff rivers - ppma conference 2010

Public Services Management Conference

22 March 2010

Geoff Rivers

Chief Executive St Edmundsbury Borough Council

St Edmundsbury Borough Council

Heart of western Suffolk

Centre of the triangle created by Norwich, Ipswich and Cambridge

Population - Bury St Edmunds - circa 40,000

Haverhill - circa 20,000

Rural - circa 50,000

Location, Location, Location !

Norwich

Bury St Edmunds

arc Development

New shopping experience

Haverhill

St Edmundsbury

CPA Assessment 2009 - Excellent

‘Architecture in place’

St Edmundsbury

What’s important to local people

Hard to engage, vulnerable, anti-poverty

Good budget and forward planning

VfM and efficiency agenda

Strong performance management system

Data quality

Partnership strategy

St Edmundsbury - performs well - UoR

Managing performance 3 out of 4

UoR 3 out of 4

- Managing finances 3 out of 4

- Governing the business 3 out of 4

- Managing Resources 4 out of 4

St Edmundsbury

Clear Planning cycle

Strategically driven

Key risks identified

Service improvements – service planning

Plan for development of the workforce

St Edmundsbury

Workforce planning

- involve staff

- they are our most important asset and our most expensive

The Challenges

• Size

• Two/three tier working

• Wider partnership agenda

• Shared services

• Potential budget reductions

• Urban and rural agendas

• “New World Politics”

West Suffolk House provided the opportunity

St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Suffolk County Council

(Police,RIEP,Health etc)

Not a building project

- a Change Management project

‘Champions’

Staff, Unions, Managers, Partners, Members

79% of staff - communications “good”

Significant cost savings

More regulatory services ‘joined up’

St Edmundsbury’s approach to Workforce Development – Getting the best out of our people

Right Culture

Leader’s behaviours

- model vision/culture

Believe that continuous improvement is

always possible

Commitment from all

4 Must do’s

5 R’s:

Right Motivation

Engaged staff Staff survey Reduced absence Discretionary effort Staff working groups

Right People

Modern employment policies Flexible working Competency progression Career pathways Apprenticeships

Right Skills

Lifelong Learning agreement Basic skills programme Leadership development Partnership skills

Right Thing

Workforce data Workforce planning Outcome focussed Clear action Evaluation and Learning

Right Way

Customer focussed Collaboration and partnership Value for Money Efficiency and Improvement Innovation and Creativity Recognition and celebrating Success

The Golden Thread

Individual member of staff

Their Team

The Council

Our Community