Basics matter!

As an elected member of Wigan Council I am frustrated at the very simple things that Wigan Council can't get right. If they can't do this what chance do they have on the more complex issues.

For example, I always ring the central number when I am calling an officer, as I find this easy than carrying all their individual numbers around. However over recent times the lines are often closed during the working day with the message that it closes at 5pm but yet it is 14.45, like yesterday.

The other week the operator told me that the officer I was trying to get through to was on the phone and I couldn't hold and I had to ring back. When I asked why she told me in a stroppy voice, "Because you are blocking a line" I mentioned I had held many times before and she replied that there are now only one person on the central number. 350 000 residents in Wigan and only one person answering the phone for their local Council. How ridiculous is this?

Money is tight, we all know, but things like this just demonstrates that the Council are cutting front line staff but yet still waste millions.

I am of the firm belief that the either or both Labour and Chief Executive cannot deliver any kind of service, never mind a first class service, that Wigan residents deserve. If the Chief Executive can deliver a first class service but it is the Labour cabinet that  won't allow her then she must stand up to them!