To inform Cabinet of the rationale behind and the contents of the joint Herefordshire Council & NHS Herefordshire Customer Strategy, so that regard can be had to it in future planning and commissioning of services and budget decisions.

The Cabinet Member Corporate and Customer Services and Human Resources congratulated officers on the report of the joint customer strategy and welcomed the results for Herefordshire citizens.  It was agreed that in order to provide an integrated service it was key to have accessible frontline offices that could deal with a variety of enquiries.

The Interim Head of Customer Services advised that the strategy had been devised around the four key elements outlined in the report, and alongside this to bring the strategy together would be the Corporate Area Assessment, World Class Commissioning, and the Duty to Involve agenda.  He emphasised that the authority needed to be seen as an efficient partnership organisation for citizens bringing together all the different areas of service  and providing a joined up approach. 

Cabinet went on to discuss the recent high percentage of calls received regarding the recently issued recycling bins.  It was noted that although additional staff had been brought in to deal with any additional calls, the number of calls received had been ten times that normally received.

RESOLVED

                        THAT:

                        (a)        the strategy its implementation and next steps be supported;

                        (b)       regard be given to the strategy in future plans, commissioning of services and budget decisions.