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Charter Mark Award
Posted on 26/07/07
P. Klein
CULTURE, leisure, heritage and arts provision in Charnwood has now got the mark of the success, thanks to being awarded a national Charter Mark.
The award is to Charnwood Borough Councils Leisure and Cultural Services and (SERCO Ltd) against the Charter Mark Standard. Loughborough Town Hall, Loughborough Leisure Centre, Soar Valley Leisure Centre, South Charnwood Swimming Pool, parks and open spaces. As well as this Loughborough Cemetery, Markets, Charnwood Museum and arts and sports development were all included in the assessment.
Charter Mark holders have demonstrated that they offer choice to their customers so that a wide range of needs are catered for. The benefits of new technology are maximised. Users and staff are consulted on where choices can be made. Communities have a say in the design and delivery of local services.
The assessors from the East Midlands Quality Centre, who visited Charnwood Borough Council to evaluate the services, said: "There is clear and effective leadership and a buzz within the organisation, the staff involved with the application should be congratulated on their enthusiasm and commitment. EMQC Limitedis an independent not for profit company that has specialised in the assessment of organisations against National Standards since 1993. These assessments offer organisations the opportunity to evaluate the performance of their people and processes and provide structure and support for improvement and adding value.
The Standard, which is very challenging to meet and is increasingly seen as a measure of quality, reflects not only service provision but is also an acknowledgement of the effort of everyone who works for Charnwood Borough Council and its partners.
The key strengths identified for the services provided by Charnwood Borough Council in the independent inspectors report are:
- Improvements have been made in recent years, with the customer at the centre of the changes
- Good and effective community working
- Customer Care Standards are in place
- Knowledge of the service is publicised widely
- Customers are listened to and have a direct say on the services through consultation
- Excellent examples of joint-working with other providers to ensure real value
- The services provide value for money and sound financial management.
The assessors report goes on to say: "There are no actions that require immediate attention and I am pleased to pass my recommendations to the EMQCs Certification Committee that the joint Services be recognised as meeting the Charter Mark Standard.
The Award will be valid for three years with ongoing monitoring.
Sylvia Wright, Head of Culture, Heritage and Arts at Charnwood Borough Council, said: "This is a credit to the hard work that the Charnwood Borough Council puts into developing leisure, culture, heritage and arts provision with all our partners. We are extremely proud and pleased with this excellent result.
The Charter Mark follows the recent award of the Quest Quality kite mark for the Charnwood Borough Council owned Leisure Centres.
Cllr Peter Lewis (Conservative, Loughborough Nanpantan), Cabinet Lead for Leisure and the Arts, said: "We are rightly famous for having a great university in our midsts; we should now take equal pride in the sporting and cultural achievements of our community. I have often had comments from people around the world, who I have met, saying what an exciting place this must be to live. I think too often we take that for granted, this award reminds us we should not do so and we should celebrate with civic pride the achievements of everybody involved.
"Not forgetting the Sports and Cultural Olympics of 2012, showing that we are ready to meet the challenge and play our part in what will be celebrated for many years to come!
Chris Traill, Director of Leisure and Environment, added: "This is a real credit to the excellence within the Leisure and Environment department and a due recognition should be given to the efforts of the staff in their customer focus.