This week we’re looking at what it means for staff and residents...
For residents, the key question will be simple: how do I access the services I need? That means one of our priorities is making sure routes into services are clear, reliable and easy to understand. Residents will need to know where to find information, how to contact the right service and whether anything has changed. They will also need to understand why moving from 10 councils to two should make services easier to navigate over time, and how the different programmes of work now underway are helping to realise those benefits.
Behind the scenes, a number of related programmes are already looking at how services, systems, customer journeys and ways of working can be improved as we move towards vesting day. The aim is to make sure the benefits of bringing 10 councils into two are not just described, but built into the way the new councils operate in practice.
As plans develop over the coming months and years, there will be some changes as organisations prepare for vesting day. Some changes may help make services easier or more consistent before the new councils are created. Other areas may stay the same for a period while longer-term decisions are worked through.
As colleagues, we all have a part to play in making this feel clear and consistent for residents. The way we describe changes, answer questions and signpost people will matter. There will be things we know, things that are still being worked through and things that will take longer to decide.
Good communication will not remove all uncertainty, but it can help residents feel reassured and help us give consistent, practical information as the work develops. It will also help explain the difference between what needs to happen for day one and what will take longer to work through.