Council Leader - celebrating our success in Council Speech!

In an upbeat leader's speech to the recent full council meeting, Council Leader Alan Taylor praised the achievements of council staff who he said "work hard day in, day out to improve the quality of life for people in the Borough" and added that it is "only right that we recognise and celebrate their successes, especially when they go beyond the call of duty".

Councillor Taylor pointed to an array of awards he had arranged to be displayed at the front of the council chamber and said he would be ensuring those awards were displayed at all council meetings.

He added: "I am particularly proud of those staff recently nominated for a customer service award. These awards take place every year and staff are put forward by both customers and colleagues for consistently going the extra mile. To me, being a public servant means just that - serving the people of this Borough to the best of their ability - and I am delighted that this year more than 150 staff were nominated.

"I'm sure you will all join me in thanking all of our staff for their hard work and dedication."

Councillor Taylor went on to say it is very easy to forget just what good and difficult job councils do, adding that people forget that the Council provides services day in, day out to over eighty thousand households in the: "And for the vast majority of the time, we get it right", he said.

He explained that it wasn't possible to cover the progress the Council has made recently in full, but he was proud to list some of those achievements:

"Introduced five new apprentices and three new graduates to the Council to bring new blood into the organisation and give young, local people the chance to shine. This is on top of the seven young people who have recently completed three year apprenticeships in horticulture and who now join us full time in the Environmental Management Service. Good news for the Council and good news for the Borough."

"Been rewarded for our leadership and management as part of the Investors in People award. Well done to the schools service for their achievement here."

"Been selected as part of a national bid called Connect2 and if we are successful we stand to gain half a million pounds to improve walks and cycleways along the towpath route in the borough. This bid will be televised on ITV in December and I ask everyone to vote for Connect2 when the time comes. This is not about politics - it is about providing a better future for our children - something we all want to see."

"Been awarded a forestry stewardship certificate for the second year - recognition that our woodlands are now managed to the highest standards and in line with our priority to be a cleaner, greener Borough."

"Listened to what our customers have told us and refurbished our customer service centre in Rochdale to ensure it meets their needs. I am delighted with the feedback I have had about this so far."

"Working with our Partners, we've started physical development work on the new 13 million pound arena in Middleton which should mean a top class leisure facility will be available from the end of 2008 onwards."

"Celebrated further regeneration success with the news that four developers have been short-listed to spearhead the £100m regeneration of Rochdale town centre. This will mean significant improvements to the area over the next few years."

"Won national acclaim at the Housing Design Awards in London for the work being done on the Dale Mill and Trafalgar Street sites. The first of these new homes will be completed in 2008."

"Been used as an example of best practice across Greater Manchester as six more authorities have signed up to the Good Guy responsible retailer scheme in the run up to bonfire night."

Councillor Taylor said these achievements are just the tip of the iceberg, concluding: "Put simply Rochdale is leading the way. Thanks to the hard work of our staff, we are emerging as leaders and not followers. We are setting the agenda and we are being noticed and recognised for it both regionally and nationally.

"We make no apologies for being ambitious in our vision and the awards you see in front of me tonight are testament to the hard work that is being put in to ensure that this vision becomes a reality."