People Strategy 2010 - 2015

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has high aspirations to be among the best councils, providing excellent services that meet the needs and wants of our service users. We want to do this effectively, maintaining as low a council tax as is reasonable. To have any chance of achieving this goal, the Council must recruit, retain and develop the best staff and councillors. This People Strategy sets a policy framework to deliver this.

The challenges the country faces as it recovers from the economic recession will be great. The public expect local government to meet all challenges that come its way, providing value for money. The public sector is very likely to contract over the coming three years, and staff and councillors will have to innovate to provide better services at lower costs. We are confident Stratford-on-Avon District Council can meet this challenge head on.

The Council enjoys a very good working relationship with its recognised union, UNISON. This has come about as a result of many years of working together to address the difficult issues that are faced in the public sector, which impact on employees. This is a cornerstone of the People Strategy. Councillors, management and staff are one team providing services that meet the needs of residents. That ‘one Council’ approach can only work with the employment of the best quality staff. We demand a lot of our staff and we reward fairly. This will continue into the future.

It is often said that people are the most important asset in any organisation. We firmly believe that to be the case. This Strategy shows the Council’s commitment to that as well and we are delighted to endorse the Council’s People Strategy, which has been produced following extensive consultation with staff and councillors.