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STAFF from our legal team will be joining forces with two other local councilsin an exciting move to create a shared legal service.The new service – nplaw (Norfolkpublic law) – will go live on Friday 1October and once up and running willhave a total of 78 staff.

Of these, 12 will be sourced from thecity council and seven from GreatYarmouth Borough Council. These 19staff will TUPE transfer to the countycouncil with the remaining 59-strongworkforce being drawn from county’slegal team. All will initially be based atCounty Hall.

Core legal services the team willprovide include prosecutions,litigation, dispute resolution, childprotection, education, social services,public procurement, planning,housing and antisocial behaviour.

Moving to this way of working willmean an improved service, careerdevelopment opportunities for staffand financial savings.

Three steering group members haveshaped nplaw and will continue to beinvolved in its overall delivery. Theyare Philip Hyde, our head of legal anddemocratic services, Victoria McNeill,head of law at the county council, andChris Skinner, head of central servicesat Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

“A lot of hard work has gone intocreating a new shared legal servicefor the three authorities,” says Philip.

“We’re all looking forward to gettingunderway and providing a high quality,

value for money service that can deliverexcellence through an experienced,motivated and valued team.”

A shared legal service

Bicycle race: some of the world'sbest cyclists were welcomed bycrowds as they rode through thestreets of Norwich last Thursday

for the Tour of Britain.

Our 12 members of staff whowill be working for nplaw haveracked up an incredible 147years of service between them.Five of these – Hazel Simmons,James Robinson, David Lowens,Nigel Brims and David Johnson– have each worked at the citycouncil for more than 20 years.

On 28 September, all of themwill be formally recognised fortheir service to the council inthe Lord Mayor’s parlour.

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The big switch-off This system, called ‘voltage optimisation’,takes the electricity supply we receiveand conditions it to the optimumvoltage for our electrical equipment.

In preparation for 2 and 3 October,staff must be aware of the following:• Computers and laptops must be

shut down, otherwise the machinesmay be damaged.

• Fridges will need to be emptied. • It will not be possible to access IT

services (including networks andtelephones) on Saturday or Sunday.This includes remote offices andinternet on BlackBerry®s.

• All electrical equipment fed from the mains supply in City Hall will be affected.

POWER will be switched off in City Hall for the first weekend in October whilenew eco technology is installed to help the building run more efficiently.

Plans to boost playPeople will be asked why they usethe play spaces, what they like andthings they’d change at an event,which takes place in the gardensbetween 10am and 4pm onSaturday 9 October.

Feedback will inform the project,which has more than £190,000allocated as part of planningconditions placed on the developersof Chapelfield shopping centre.

Parks and open spaces officerMaggie Finck is managing theproject, with support fromcommunity engagement officer JeffCompton and landscape architectSally Ward. Other specialistsupport will come from councildepartments including finance,procurement and communications.

The team will also be working withnearby organisations to find out whatpeople want from the gardens beforeany plans are made. It is hoped thesewill be drawn up in spring of next yearready for further consultation and thatthe work will take place in 2012.

PLAYTIME in Chapelfield Gardens is to get even better and those whouse the park will help to decide the changes being made.

This is one of a number of projectswe are undertaking to make use ofdeveloper contributions to improve play in our parks and open spaces.

Richard Willson, environmentalstrategy manager, says: “The workwill improve how we use our powerand save nearly £11,000 a year, whilealso cutting 65 tonnes of CO2, which is amazing. We really need staff to help make it go as smoothlyas possible.”

The council’s web pages will not beavailable at all during this time. Amessage notifying people will bedisplayed and this will be flagged upin advance.

For more information about theproject, please contact John Douganon 212545 or by emailingjohndougan@norwich.gov.uk

IN BRIEFCensus day jobs Census day is on 27 March 2011 and tomake sure it runs as smoothly aspossible, the Office of NationalStatistics has a range of temporary jobsto fill across the country.

With roles requiring a range of skills,differing work patterns and length ofcontract, there’s something to suiteveryone.

James Roe, director of censusrecruitment, says: “Census jobs offer aunique chance to get involved in anational project that has the potential todeliver real benefits to them and theirlocal community.

“We are looking for individuals who canspare some time to help gather theinformation we need, while earningsome extra money and helping tochange things for the better.”

For more information about the Census2011 and jobs available, please visitwww.censusjobs.co.uk – despite thesecurity warning, the website is safe to use.

Be an ambassadorIf you’re proud of our fine city, why notspread the word and become part ofthe new Norwich Ambassador Scheme.

It’s designed to help those whose jobsinvolve dealing with visitors and localpeople. However, it’s also open toenthusiastic members of the public whoare keen to broaden their knowledge ofwhat the city has to offer.

Two sessions are being held at TheAssembly House in Norwich on Tuesday19 and Wednesday 20 October.Sessions cost £25, including a buffetand information pack with money-offvouchers for city attractions.

For more information and bookings visitwww.norwich12.co.uk

A real HONOR HONOR (Healthier Options Norfolk) willbe introduced on Wednesday at aspecial event at City College Norwich.

The initiative aims to inspire businessesto offer meals with lower salt and sugarcontent, use less saturated fats andincrease the use of fruit and vegetables.

Chris Gooding, our food safety officerwho is overseeing the new scheme, says:“We want to encourage the foodbusinesses in Norwich to get on board.

“It’s not about restaurants offeringnothing but very healthy dishes; it’smore to do with giving customers thechoice when they eat out.”

OUR food safety team is launching an exciting new scheme to encourage restaurants and caterers to offer healthier choices.

Blooming greatMONTHS of hard work and dedication paid off last week whenthe winners of the Anglia in Bloom awards were announced.

Norwich won silver gilt in the smallcity category, and silver awards in theUrban Regeneration and Communitysection went to Mancroft ward, TheLanes, Sewell ward, Town Close wardand Thorpe Hamlet.

The city also received eightcertificates of recognition for special

projects, including work at LakenhamWay, the Assembly House, the CastleEntrance, Mousehold Heath andMousehold Defenders, MagdalenGates Pre-School and Strangers’ Hall Gardens.

“This is great news,” says thecouncil’s horticultural sponsorshipofficer Terry Bane. “The Friends ofNorwich in Bloom team aims toencourage as many wards aspossible to enter the competition,showing all that can be achieved ineach neighbourhood.

“Hopefully one day all 13 wards willbe entered and a winner will go forwardto the UK Britain in Bloom finals.”

There were 66 entrants this year fromacross the region, with 12 achievinggold standard and 28 silver gilt standard.

More information about Norwich inBloom can be found atwww.norwichinbloom.co.uk

To qualify for an HONOR award, all foodpremises have to demonstrate theyhave healthier options on their menuand are allergy and nutrition-aware.

Our revamped food safety web pagesnow feature business merits alongsidethe new food hygiene rating. Thismeans you can find out whichplaces offer healthier options, arebreastfeeding-friendly, source foodlocally and have wheelchair access.

Census 2011

Welcome to Bollywood

Neighbourhood wardens(west) teamCommunity engagement officerLouise Curtis would like to say howmuch she appreciated the help ofAndy Rodwell, Mick Ashby andDiddy (David) Smith on some recentcommunity work.

“A coach of young New Dayvolunteers came to Bowthorpe tolitter-pick the area and paint part ofthe community centre. The wardenswere a great help in supervising thegroup and it was really appreciatedby both me and the local vicar.”

Tourist Information CentreCongratulations to our team at theTIC, whose help prompted a visitor tothe city to get in touch. In the email,the lady from Yorkshire praised theteam’s efforts and said: “You sent lotsof information, which helped us planour holiday in Norwich and when wecame to the Forum, nothing seemedtoo much trouble.

BOUQUETS

Information and data assistant RobertParish is a member of Roteract, a clubfor 18 to 30-year-olds who like tosocialise and make a difference to theircommunities in the process.

He is helping to stage a Bollywood-themed night in aid of the club’s chosencharity for the year, Autism Anglia; andit also supports other causes as part ofits monthly events.

“It’s set to be a great evening,” saysRobert. “There’ll be Indian-style snacks,henna painting, pub games and thechance to learn a bit of Bollywood

“Norwich felt like a city that has pridein itself – we will certainly recommendit to others and hope to visit again soon.”

Revenues and benefits teammembersCongratulations are due to Jill Healey,revenues and benefits manager; JulieGowling, benefits subsidy andperformance officer; Sue Graytraining officer – revenues and JanFerguson, revenues reconciliation andreturns officer, for their success inachieving the IRRV technicalqualification. Appeals, liaison andoverpayments team leader JennyBuck says: “This is another benefit tothe service following hot on the heelsof the current LEAN process. Welldone to them!”

Lisa Kidd, recovery officerCustomer contact adviser CarolineLagden would like to thank Lisa forher help recently: “I neededassistance with a customer and Lisa

went well beyond the call of duty toresolve the issue. It was so helpfulto have someone with the expertiseto respond to the query, which wasproving difficult to resolve.”

dancing. Everyone’s welcome so getdressed up and bring along some ofyour friends too.”

The event takes place on Friday (24September) at the Hog in Armour on StBenedicts Street. It all kicks off at7.30pm, tickets are £5 and can bebought in advance by contactingRobert on 214104 or just turning up onthe night.

Anyone interested in finding out moreabout Roteract can log on towww.rotaract.org.uk or you can lookthem up on facebook.

IF YOU fancy a night out with a twist then there’s fun to be had atanother charity event being organised by a member of staff.

Robert Parish

TIC staff