CCC Policy Network 1 st July 2011

Building pride in Cumbria

CCC Policy Network1st July 2011

Dawn Roberts, Assistant Director of

Policy and Performance


Purpose of today’s session

To share information on strategy and policy development work being done across the organisation and ideas about where we can work together to help each other


Instant Atlas: Update

Rebecca Raw - Research, Information and Intelligence Officer

Performance & Intelligence Unit - July 2011


Feedback

General comments:

• Positive comments – maps very useful, layout is intuitive;

• Really useful tool to inform planning processes and target resources; and,

• Supports transparency.


Feedback

Immediate Actions:• A number of datasets suggested – i.e. population

density, average rents, CACI, IMD 2010, service user data;

• Equality – protected characteristics;

• Importance of keeping up to date - system developed for keeping all datasets up to date.


Feedback

Further networks:

• Lots of potential user groups identified who would benefit from demo;

• Immediate work included - Trading Standards, Nursing Students, Scrutiny Network, Adult Social Care, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).


Future Development (1)

Key Message - future promotion to focus on using the atlas to support strategic planning and targeting of resources.

Provide a worked example of an atlas used to support strategic planning to present to Extended CMT, Chief Executives Group and Local Committees.


Future Development (2)Adult and Local Services Atlas: Working with Performance Improvement Team

within Adults and Local Services; Selected key contextual information combined

with with service user data; Engagement with County Managers; Present atlas as evidence base for developing

district plans to target services.


Future Development (3)Children’s Centre Footprint, Childcare Sufficiency

Assessment and Children’s Services Atlases: Working with colleagues within Children’s Services; Contextual information, service user and survey data; 3rd party contractors – demonstrate planning based

on evidence; Children’s Centre Staff & Ofsted – identifying

successful interventions and tackling issues.


Future Developments (4)Longer term focus is on meeting the requirements of statutory needs assessment activity in Cumbria.

Linked to our Thematic Partnerships:

•Children’s Atlas – Building on Child Poverty Assessment•Economic Atlas – Beginning with datasets relating to Cumbria’s Economic Assessment•Safer and Stronger Atlas – supporting Strategic Assessments •Heath Atlas– Links to PCT Atlas & JSNA


Refreshing the Customer Service Strategy

Steve TweedieCustomer Services Manager

‘Creating the conditions for Cumbria’s communities to thrive by putting people at the heart of everything we do, and working with others to deliver excellent services for those who need us most.’


The aim of this presentation

• To update the Policy Network members as to the Customer Services Strategy refresh work to date and the principles being established.

• To provide details of the strategic areas of focus and the action plan emerging as a result.

• To seek the groups view as to how best to create the cultural shift the strategy is proposing.


The 4 key strategy principles

The principles are defined in the strategy from a customers perspective.

• We make it easy for our customers.• We treat people with dignity and respect• We take responsibility• We use customer feedback to improve our services


Three strategic areas of focusQuality

• A culture where excellent customer service is everyone’s business, where the focus is on the needs of the customer and not on the organisation

• Staff take ownership and responsibility for enquiries• Through publicised pledges, customers know what they can

expect• Customers can influence the quality of the services provided to

ensure they reflect their needs• Staff deliver great customer care


Three strategic areas of focusResponsiveness

• Feedback and insight shape and inform the development of our services

• Customers are supported to make informed choices• Services are delivered in the most efficient and timely manner• Staff and customers can access up-to-date and accurate

information • Customers can engage with the council effectively


Three strategic areas of focusAccess

• Customers have a choice of access• The web is the primary channel and resource for staff to access

on customers’ behalf• The web is the hub of our information offering interactive access• The concept of ‘local linking’ extends the current brand and

shifts the focus from buildings to service• Local teams’ expertise provides professional help from the first

point of contact and ensures continuity of care


Questions and Group exerciseRemembering that customers can be

‘internal’ as well as ‘external’ how can we embed the strategy and create the cultural shift required at the following three levels of the organisation:

1) Directorate, 2) Team and 3) Individual?


Making Policy Easier:Responding to Consultations

Clare KilleenStrategic Policy Adviser

Policy, Planning & Communities


Background• Work being undertaken to review our

approach to responding to consultations• Responses to national consultations – not

how we consult with our communities / stakeholders

• Research undertaken on the management processes and issues across the organisation

• Have you responded to, or contributed to, a consultation response?


Messages / Issues• A public statement of the Council’s policy

position • Lobbying• Need to be easily accessible and highly

visible, in one place, across the organisation• Clear rationale for responding – or not• From what position or perspective is a

response being made


Over To You!

• What are the things to think about when you identify an opportunity to respond to a consultation?– deciding whether to respond– developing a response

• Would a checklist be helpful?• Would you find anything else helpful?


Equality Act

Joel Rasbash Strategic Policy Adviser

Policy Planning and Communities


Equality Act (2010)• Protects us all from discrimination and

unfair treatment as:– Users of public services– Consumers– Employees, volunteers or acting in an

official role (i.e. a school governor or councillor)


Who does the Equality Act Protect?• The Equality Act protects people based on:

– Gender (including Transgender), marital status, maternity or paternity

– Disability and long term health conditions– Ethnicity– Age– Sexual orientation– Religion and Belief – Carers


New Public Sector Duty• Applies to Public Organisations only

• Must pay ‘Due Regard’ to:– Preventing discrimination, harassment and

victimisation– Promote equality of opportunity for people

covered by the law– Promote good relations between different

groups in the local area


Example of challenge – Birmingham City Council

• Decision to cut grants to Third Sector

• No EIA of decision

• Judicial Review

• Restitution of funds


Example of Good Practice – Cumbria County Council

• Disability NOW 24 – Extended access to free buses for Disabled people going to work or training before 9.30.– Consulted disability groups– Costed extension of provision– Focused on where the need was critical– Still could make savings


Priorities for Policy Officers

• Preventing Discrimination– Making cuts fairly – Equality Impact Assessment

• Promoting Equality of Opportunity– Support for projects that tackle inequality and

disadvantage• Promoting Good Relations

– Awareness raising activities, inter-cultural understanding, awareness of diversity.


Equality Impact Assessments

• Ensuring decisions comply with the Equality Act and prevent challenge

• Requirement for Cabinet and Local Committee decisions

• Officers to produce EIA as part of advice to Members as:– Appendix to main document– Considered within the body of the report


Support available• Policy, Planning and Communities Team

– Advice and support through EIA surgeries and training sessions

– Intranet resources – EIA guidance, template and demographic data for Cumbria

– http://www.intouch.ccc/equalities/default.asp


Thank you

• Joel Rasbash

• 01228 226639

• [email protected]

• http://www.intouch.ccc/equalities/default.asp


National Policy Update

Clare Killeen

Strategic Policy Adviser

Policy, Planning & Communities


What has happened…?

Budget 2011 & Plan for Growth• Enterprise Zones

– EOI submitted– A bid under development – LEP sign-off – end of

June• Planning reforms• Funding for new homes• Apprenticeship and work placements



Giving White Paper

• Making it easier to give

• Making it more compelling to give

• Better support for those providing and managing opportunities to give



Natural Environment White Paper

• Local Nature Partnerships

• Nature Improvement Areas

• Promoting a green economy

• Reconnecting people and nature


What is happening…?

Local Government Resource Review• Phase 1

– Local Government funding – business rates– Will report in July

• Phase 2– Community Budgets– Due to begin


What is happening…?Bills going through parliament

• Police and Social Responsibility• Welfare Reform• Localism• Energy• Education• Health & Social Care


Policy Briefings available on the intranet


What’s coming up this month?

• Public Service Reform – white/green paper

• National Planning Framework• Local Government Resource Review

phase 1 report• Public Health – response to consultation


In total ….Driving principles:

• more and different providers of public services

• more powers to communities

• freedoms and flexibilities for local government – democratic accountability


Local GovernmentFreedom & Flexibility

Increased Diversity of Public Service

Providers

Increased Powersto Communities

DemocraticAccountability

Reform Principles

Key National Reform Principles - Indication of areas of Policy Impact / Initiative

Public Health

School ProvisionAsset

Management Commissioning/Procurement

CommunityEngagement

CustomerServices

Planning

LocalReferenda

Economy &Enterprise

Transparency

Crime & Community

Safety

LA Governance

General PowerOf Competence

Local Government

Finance


In total ….Significant shift for the Council:• less prescription from government – decisions• role as service deliverer / commissioner• support to communities• support to 3rd sector• support to Elected Members• personalisation• services in localities


Any Comments?


Quick task

National leadership?

Pathfinder / Pilot?

Early implementer?

National Award Winners?


Council Policy – what’s coming up, what do you want help with?

Dawn Roberts, Assistant Director of

Policy and Performance


Opportunities for developing a steering group

• Opportunities to develop a steering group?

• Any expressions of interest?


Next Session • The next Policy Network Session will

be held on Friday 7th October 2011 from 10:00am to 12:30pm.

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CCC Policy Network 1 st July 2011

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