Thanks for your support during this unsettling time

Hello,

We’d like to start this blog with a big thank you to all of those staff at Bourne Hill whose working arrangements have been affected by the ongoing police activity in Salisbury and to all the staff that are now actively involved in supporting the multi-agency group with the work that’s required.

Carlton visited Bourne Hill yesterday and said it was good to see and speak with staff from customer services, registration, revenues and benefits, planning, adult care, children’s services, police colleagues and FM.

We're aware that other staff have also been affected - a number of meeting rooms at County Hall are now being used, and we took the decision to remove the IT facility from mobile phones and iPads as a security measure at the end of last week.

This is an unprecedented situation and we appreciate that it is an unsettling time; particularly given the ongoing investigation and extensive media coverage. Thank you for your continued support.

This has been an extraordinary incident and we recognise that it is an unsettling time for local residents and businesses. Whilst the investigation into the incident continues, we are working with our partners and local and central government agencies to set out plans for what’s required to help Salisbury return to normality as we move into the recovery phase that follows a major incident.

Local residents, businesses and the city’s national and international visitors will be reassured that Salisbury is a vibrant and safe place to live, work and to visit. Cabinet has decided to hold its next meeting on 27 March (2018) in Salisbury and to include an update on the multi-agency recovery plan and provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

Working together with our local and national partners we will take action to assist those affected as a result of the incident. A priority is to provide the support that’s needed to help the city return to business as usual and to promote its attractions and wide range of activities that it has to offer. As this recovery process is implemented we will keep you updated.

This week has also seen a number of staff involved with the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) visit. This is part of a review of the effectiveness of the health and social care system in Wiltshire. This week’s visit is only one part of the review and there will be extensive data gathering which will enable the CQC to understand the system, how it works, and, most importantly identify any areas for improvement.

Finally, our biggest event of the year; the Business and Sports Annual Gala Dinner takes place this Thursday evening in the Atrium. Now in its fifth year, this event, which raises money for Funding Wiltshire’s future Olympians and Paralympians Foundation, is a firmly established fixture in both the sporting and business calendars. Last year businesses raised almost £50,000 for our up and coming sports stars. Our challenge this year is to beat that total! We’ll let you know how it goes next week.

Alistair, Carlton and Terence