A study carried out independently by the Future Highways Research Group has concluded that the services delivered by South Gloucestershire Council\u2019s StreetCare team provide \u2018value for money\u2019.<\/p>\n
As well as recognising that we are delivering sector-leading value for money, they also highlighted our resilient services, which adapt to the needs of residents.<\/p>\n
The research was completed in June and included analysis of the activities carried out by StreetCare, benchmarking against other local authorities, along with an independent peer review.<\/p>\n
Our highly experienced StreetCare operatives carry out a range of specialist and frontline services across South Gloucestershire including street cleansing services such as litter picking and graffiti removal, highways maintenance, gritting, tree works, grounds maintenance of our parks, road verges and open spaces, pest control services, street lighting, plumbing and electrical repairs as well as structural engineering and design.<\/p>\n
The complimentary findings are a testament to the work being done by everyone across the service area.<\/p>\n
The research group were especially impressed with our \u2018one team\u2019 approach and close collaboration with partners, which ensures we can provide robust and resilient services, which adapt to the needs of residents and other service users. The report concluded that:<\/p>\n
– we provide services efficiently and have a good track record of delivering service improvements and savings<\/p>\n
– we manage our costs extremely well \u2013 we were found to offer one of the lowest cost and most efficient services in our peer group<\/p>\n
– staff are clear about what they\u2019re doing and how their work supports the delivery of our priorities<\/p>\n
– our dedicated procurement hub is a strength, ensuring staff and partners can focus on operational delivery.<\/p>\n
Cabinet Member for Communities and Local Place Cllr Rachael Hunt said: \u201cI would like to send a big thank you to all of our StreetCare staff for their ongoing efforts across South Gloucestershire which have resulted in these positive findings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe constantly strive to deliver high quality services at the very best value for money for our residents, so it\u2019s fantastic to see that our StreetCare department\u2019s\u00a0hard work has been recognised as helping deliver such a well-respected, effective and proactive service.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an ambitious plan to invest \u00a3174 million in our roads network over a four-year period and so it is reassuring to have this independent assessment that our teams can achieve our goals efficiently and effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n
Head of StreetCare Mark King said: \u201cWe have a great team of staff in StreetCare who work across a really diverse range of roles. They are all passionate about the local area and as well as having great pride in their work, they always go the extra mile to ensure that our residents are satisfied.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of our strengths is the dynamic nature of our workforce, where we can allocate resources to exactly where they are needed the most. For example, the teams that are out resurfacing roads and filling potholes during the summer, will also go out gritting during the colder months.\u201d<\/p>\n