CMU1 – Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing
CMU2 – Cabinet Member for Customers, Digital Transformation & Improvement
Minutes:
CMU1 – Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing
The Chair invited Councillor McLaren – Cabinet Member for Communities & Wellbeing to introduce paper CMU1.
Councillor Hinton referred to the Western Suffolk Community Safety Partnership Action Plan and asked why there was no reference to the Eastern Suffolk Community Safety Partnership.
Councillor Davis clarified as the Chairman of the Western Suffolk Community Safety Partnership, that it covered the entirety of Babergh.
Councillor Holt sought assurance of Babergh’s continued support for Abbeycroft Leisure in the face of the energy crisis.
Councillor McLaren conveyed her satisfaction with relations between Babergh and Abbeycroft Leisure, and stated that meetings are held on a quarterly basis.
The Interim Director for Communities & Wellbeing reported that Abbeycroft Leisure was performing positively post-covid. Although they had predicted a shortfall, they were able to manage this, and although financial back up had been made available, they had never drawn on it.
CMU2 – Cabinet Member for Customers, Digital Transformation & Improvement
The Chair invited Councillor McCraw – Cabinet Member for Customers, Digital Transformations & Improvement to introduce paper CMU2.
Councillor S Barrett raised issue with the term ‘customer’ and suggested ‘taxpayer’ as more suitable alternative.
Councillor Lindsay agreed with Councillor S Barrett that the Council was not a business and suggested the term ‘citizen’, to further denote the obligations and duties that constituents are beholden.
Councillor McCraw voiced support for ‘customers’ as an appropriate term in emulation of the right culture and due respect to those the Council works for. Additionally, Councillor McCraw declared that the effect should be the focus as opposed to language-use and noted that ‘customers’ worked.
Councillor Hinton noted the involvement of ‘customer’ language-use in other similar services. In addition, Councillor Hinton questioned whether adequate provision had been made for those who have disconnected from the internet due to economic constraints that had arisen from the energy crisis.
Councillor McCraw remarked that the priority would be to dispense with streaming services rather than internet providers and noted developments in low-cost internet access, albeit something far off.
Councillor Parker raised concern with the complexity of language in paragraph 2.1.4 and enquired about the ease of access for customers.
Councillor McCraw agreed that online forms needed ease-of-use and to be jargon-free. Councillor McCraw exampled improvements on gov.uk as direction forward.
Councillor Holt raised concern that 1 in 4 people dropped out before the phone was answered and noted that this was worse over the past 4 years.
Councillor McCraw agreed and clarified that the demand increased whilst the staff to manage the demand decreased but that it was being addressed.
Councillor M Barrett asked whether there was a desire to downgrade face-to-face.
Councillor McCraw asserted that the services were not underloaded nor overloaded and that the access points in Sudbury and Hadleigh are able to meet demands.
Councillor Lindsay sought reassurance to resolve the backlog in housing repair issues. Additionally, Councillor Lindsay enquired about the track record of Placecube and the help the project provides citizens.
Councillor McCraw acknowledged that the backlog due to covid required time to work through, as well as new compliance issues was being addressed. Councillor McCraw revealed that the contractors have a track record, will provide a user forum and stated that the project cost was reasonable with anticipated reductions in the cost of running services.
Supporting documents: