Staff outing was training trip, not a "jolly" - Rother leader

THE departmental head paid for refreshments out of her own pocket, Rother leader Cllr Carl Maynard has assured a taxpayer who complained that staff had been sent on a "jolly" at public expense.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Nov 2008, 12:30 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:11 BST

The questioner asked: "Could the leader explain why it was considered necessary to send over 40 staff on a free, all expenses-paid 'jolly' including free coach to Northiam, morning coffees, a boat trip to Bodiam followed by a slap-up lunch then afternoon teas and coach back to the Town Hall?

"If one includes their day's salary, what is the overall cost to the council-tax payer? Thank you for your enquiry on the Customer Services Development Day."

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The leader said: "This is a newly-formed Rother service, covering our three Help Points at Battle, Bexhill, Rye and the new telephone/e-mail Contact Centre.

"Training and development for this team is difficult as they are always operational and therefore on duty for all of our customers.

"A training room was utilised at the Bodiam site and the team used a coach to get there. I can assure you this was very inexpensive, as out-of-season and was cheaper to run here than in the town itself.

"This exercise was used for training our staff, updating their skills in customer care and operational processes and was very much needed. This gave an opportunity for the other council officers and services to cover during the absence of the Customer Services team and for us this was a good business continuity exercise.

"As for refreshments for the day, the head of service for this area paid for her team, so I can assure this has not come out of public funds but personal funds."

Related topics:RyeBexhill