Improving our services by listening to customers - you said, we did...
We've had a few comments from Parish Councillors and clerks about the way we handle your telephone enquiries in the Customer Service Centre.

Generally when a customer calls in and asks to speak to an Officer or a Department our Advisors ask a few questions so we can direct them to the right person or section. As an example someone simply asking for Housing will be asked a few questions to establish whether the call should go to a number of differing sections including housing management, property services, housing benefit etc. Similarly changes in officer's roles and responsibilities require that they will ask questions to direct callers to the person able to answer the enquiry.

Our experience of call handling does show that although it takes a little longer when the call is initially answered, if we don't ask these questions we end up with misdirected calls that both frustrate the customer and take up valuable officer's time.
However, it's fair to say that Parish Council Councillors and Clerks regularly contacting the City Council know who they want to talk to and don't need to go through this exercise so to speed things up the Customer Service Centre staff have been advised that if you announce yourselves as a Parish Councillor or Clerk and tell them who you wish to speak to you will be transferred straight away.

If you have any suggestions to help us to improve the service let us know by contacting Paul Wood, Head of Customer Service on 01962 848 318 or emailing pwood@winchester.gov.uk

Training for Parish Councils
The 'Ethical Framework for Parishes' is intended for both new and longer serving Councillors and Clerks. The evening will examine the Code of Conduct and how it affects the actions of those involved with Parish Councils. The training will take place on:

Thursday 16 October 2008
6.30pm
Jubilee Hall
Bishops Waltham

A number of practical examples will be given related to everyday situations which Councillors and Clerks may encounter.

Contact Katherine Pryor at the City Council Committees team on kpryor@winchester.gov.uk or (01962) 848 264 for more details.

Launch of the New Planning Website
The new planning website went live on Thursday 18th September. The opportunity to develop a new website for applications arose with the change over to a new IT system to store Planning documents. The website has been designed and developed over the last few months with the City Council's Information, Management and Technology Department taking into consideration User suggestions. Ideas for further improvements will continue to be welcomed, email webmaster@winchester.gov.uk


New Business Directory
The Disc Directory, an online business directory provider, has partnered Winchester City Council to launch a new, searchable database of over 6,000 businesses based in the district.

The Council, which is committed to supporting local enterprise, has taken a major step in providing a technologically advanced business directory which offers a free listing to every business in the Winchester District. The directory becomes more useful for both consumers and businesses each time it is used, setting it apart from the kind of directories produced in the past.

The outstanding function of The Disc Directory's online business directory for the Winchester District is the ability for consumers to leave feedback and recommendations. These recommendations, once authenticated, can help consumers to source and ultimately use local businesses. The directory provides over 20,000 search criteria and more than 1,200 service categories, along with a map finder facility with road, aerial and bird's eye views. Business listings include trade accreditation marques such as Buy with Confidence, Safe2Eat, CORGI, Chamber of Commerce and Good Salon Guide.

South coast company The Disc Directory, which currently covers the majority of Hampshire and Dorset with its own business directory, has developed and will maintain the directory. The directory style represents a big leap forward from previous, paper-based formats which dated quickly and even more recently introduced static web listings.

The Winchester City business directory can be accessed at http://www.wccbd.co.uk/


2012 'Live Your Dream' Framework Comments
A reminder that the deadline for Parish Council comments on the draft 2012 'Live Your Dream' Framework document is the end of September. The document seeks to ensure that residents from the Winchester District make the most of the opportunities and interest of the 2012 London Games, Paralympic Games and Cultural Olympiad.
We are interested in hearing your views in a short survey which can be found on Council's 2012 - Live Your Dream page.