LGC awards - Bolton management team

Service transformations and redesigns, such as modernisation of the waste service and the behaviour change programme, have been effective at improving service provision while simultaneously delivering value for money savings. Meanwhile, programmes such as Green Teams and school meals promotions are helping to narrow the gap and improve the wellbeing of Bolton and its residents.

Success has also been built on greater consultation and involvement with stakeholders, and this has transformed the reputation of the department resulting in greater confidence amongst our customers and leaders. The management team has developed an ethos of engagement with staff, strengthening their involvement in the delivery of service improvements and identification of efficiency opportunities.

Key innovative projects have included:

• Implementation of the £1 School Meal Deal promotion. This promotion has seen school meal uptake increase to 70% up from 50.8% the previous year – approximately 30% higher than the national average. This has saved each family who had a child participating on average over £150 over the year and has resulted in 30 new local employees.
• Development of a new service delivery model for winter gritting, generating savings on fixed costs of approximately £25,000, while maintaining an effective service. The service also reduced the number of killed and seriously injured for the fifth year in a row.
• Modernisation of the waste service, which lead to a review and change of routes affecting nearly all 260,000 residents and saved approximately £360,000. An extensive marketing and communications campaign reduced contamination in recyclate from 28% to 4% alongside household waste levels dropping for the fourth year in row.
• Implementation of the Cleaner and Greener Behaviour Change programme which introduced a number of borough-wide campaigns in 2009/10, such as ‘The Big Clean up’, ‘Love Bolton, Hate Litter’ and for dog fouling ‘We are not messing, are you?’ This was a fundamental shift in our approach towards a preventative and targeted service. This has seen detritus and graffiti levels reduced by a third from 2008-09 levels, to 8% and 6% respectively.

Malcolm Cox, director of environmental services said: “Collectively we have worked hard to drive transformational change and to continuously improve services for our residents. This success is built upon the support and work put in by all our staff and Members. They have all worked tirelessly to support us and have been instrumental in implementing and embracing the changes and improvements.”

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