Transforming the County Council

A modern business providing public services

What do apprenticeships, superfast broadband and reducing office space have in common? They are all part of the Council’s plans to transform the way it operates and delivers services.

The world of local government is going to be very different in the future. Councils are not only facing a reduction in funding, they also need to respond to the decisions the Government is making, that could change the way public services are delivered. Hampshire is rising to this challenge and working to ensure that reducing costs goes hand in hand with the transformation of services. We are committed to excellence and need to take a long term view and invest in areas that will meet the future needs of people living, working and visiting Hampshire. Some examples of where we are seeking opportunities to develop services and reshape the County Council are:

Getting Connected

A key example is the roll out of Superfast Broadband. The Internet is now an everyday part of our lives - it enables people to work from home, apply for jobs, shop and children can access, complete and submit their homework online.

However, for some, particularly in rural areas, slow connection speeds can be frustrating. The County Council is looking at how it can encourage internet service providers to upgrade the infrastructure in areas that currently experience low speeds and where further investment is not planned.

Making better use of buildings

The County Council is making the most of its buildings and over the coming years will be reducing its office space, saving £2million a year. This new approach also includes joining up services to provide better access such as increasing the number of libraries that host registration services (births, deaths and marriages). This has already been successful in Gosport Discovery Centre, Bishop’s Waltham, Eastleigh and Havant libraries.

In Winchester, the refurbishment of the County Council’s headquarters, Elizabeth II Court, has significantly cut the running costs and energy consumption and it now houses 500 more staff. This has meant other buildings in the city could be released for sale to help fund the project and release funds for local services.

Improving employment opportunities

We are helping to reduce inequalities and improve employment opportunities for the young by building on the success of our apprenticeship scheme with Internships Plus. This new initiative offers young care leavers the chance to get their foot on the employment ladder.

One of our former apprentices, Jenny Damerell, who now works with us as a children and family support worker, has been awarded the Fareport Training ‘Achievement in Learning Award 2010’. Jenny has also been nominated for the National Apprenticeship Service ‘Apprentice of the Year 2011’ award.