Bumper success as Council shortlisted for four awards

 

 

In the Local Government Chronicle Awards, 2012, the Council has for the second year running, been shortlisted for the hotly-contested title of Council of the Year.  

Among the achievements which helped it reach these nationally-coveted heights are:   

• Continuing to provide high quality services despite financial constraints
• Streamlining back office functions to avoid the need to stop or close any services this year.
• Having several award-winning projects, or those highlighted for best practice.
• Striving to be recognised as the cultural capital of the East of England; to promote a thriving sustainable economy; to have first class services and flourishing, active communities
• Delivering capital investment projects such as the Better Southend initiatives, and Southend Swimming and Diving Centre that will make a real difference to residents and businesses for years to come.  

Meanwhile Council projects shortlisted in these other categories for the LGC Awards 2012 are:  

• Corporate Governance

This is for the way the Council uses complaints to improve services. There is a three tier process for complaints, culminating in the personal attention of the Chief Executive.

Nearly 90 per cent of complaints are resolved at the first stage. Around ten per cent result in service improvements.

These improvements are then quality-checked to ensure that they have been implemented.

A monthly audit on new complaints is carried out to ensure previous trends are not recurring.

All Customer Service Centre staff are trained how to handle complaints.

• Workforce

This is for the Council's Workforce Strategy which is successfully sustaining high levels of staff engagement and performance - reducing staff sickness absence by 33 per cent, maintaining and developing a skilled workforce despite a ten per cent budget deficit.

This includes the internal talent pool which has so far managed to re-deploy 60 Council staff in other roles.

• Legal

Public Law Partnership - One Service, One Culture, One Brand. This is a partnership of 22 authorities - including Southend - which shares legal services and expertise, to save resources, and increase bargaining power.  

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Leader, Councillor Nigel Holdcroft said: "It is a real boost for residents and staff to know that the Council's continuing achievements are being nationally recognised.

"To be shortlisted for four awards across a whole range of areas shows how people throughout the organisation are continuing to deliver very high levels of service, despite the tough financial pressures.  

"In the midst of this very difficult economic climate, it is all the more significant that we are being counted among the best Councils in the country.

"We would like to congratulate everyone who has contributed to this tremendous success so far, and send our very best wishes for the final stages of the contest."

The winners will be announced on London on Wednesday 14th March next year.