Borough Council’s Transformation Must Include a Change in Culture

Published on: 27 Feb, 2019
Updated on: 1 Mar, 2019

Last night’s full Guildford Borough Council meeting

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

Changing “old and creaky” computer systems and the way Guildford Borough Council delivers its services in the future received cross-party support at a full council meeting last night (February 26, 2019).

Leaders from political groups welcomed the transformation programme, Future Guildford, but warned there also needed to be a change in the culture of the council.

The council is projecting a gap between income and expenditure of about £10 million between now and 2023 and is looking at ways to change.

Councillors listen to the debate.

It is believed this could lead to staff redundancies as the headcount is set to reduce by 14%, up to 100 jobs, with teams restructured and new roles introduced.

But at the council meeting councillors welcomed the transformation programme and approved it to go to the next stage of implementation which could take up to two years.

Cllr David Reeve

Cllr David Reeve, (GGG, Clandon & Horsley), said: “I thoroughly support this activity and think it’s very sensible for the council and will bring great benefits. This is not just a rehash of IT systems and a redefinition of work practices.

“We need to look at a real change of culture in the whole organisation. It will be a lost opportunity if we go through this process and don’t focus on that. It’s not just process and procedure and work practice, it’s getting a change into the culture as well.”

The council has employed management consultants Ignite. They have also worked with Tandridge District Council who have called their transformation programme Customer First and had redundancy talks with staff last year.

According to council papers, forecast costs for the programme total £13.4 million including paying for Ignite, contractors and new technology as well as other systems and equipment between now and 2023.

Cllr Angela Gunning, (Lab, Stoke), said:  “I’ve been party to all these discussions which I welcomed and I don’t disagree with these ambitions and plans. But whilst efficiencies are good things, we are making a virtue out of necessity.

“Other councils are doing it so we are keeping up with other councils. But they too are having to do it because the alternative is to go bust. This is yet another blow to the lives of ordinary people.”

Cllr Tony Rooth, (Ind Alliance, Pilgrims) said: “Clearly there are major changes that are needed to the IT provision, service delivery and necessity to have a cross-council service delivery to our residents. This is a relatively new concept that Ignite have put forward. They have done it for several councils.”

The cause of the budget gap is due to reductions in funding assessment, resetting of business rates system, removal of £2m for new homes bonuses and an increase in costs and interest charges.

Cllr Susan Parker, (GGG, Send), said the computer systems were “old and creaky” adding: “We are forced into a situation where we need to save money.”

Cllr Paul Spooner

Council Leader Paul Spooner (Con, Ash South & Tongham) said there have already been discussions with staff and unions in an informal setting and that they will be updated regularly before any formal discussions take place.

He said: “We have had a fair amount of member involvement with this process across the council. I agree about the cultural change.”

He said cultural change did need to take place as “part of the process” with the transformation.

A 3% rise in council tax for 2019-20 was also voted through despite opposition from the Lib Dems and one abstention from the Guildford Greenbelt Group.

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