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Being
properly equipped has been a recurrent theme in the work
of the Commercial Operations Board during 2003/04. From
the purchase of specialist plant and machinery to the preparation
of a senior management strategy to take the Commercial
Operations Unit forward, significant progress has been
made in enhancing and extending services to fulfil key
tasks.
Key Achievements
- The activities of the Commercial Operations
Board continued to generate a substantial surplus
in 2003/04. As a result,
an Apprenticeship Scheme within the Commercial
Operations Unit has been extended and more generally,
employment
stability in the Western Isles has improved.
- A
full business plan for the Commercial Operations Unit
(COU) was completed in line with Scottish
Executive recommendations.
Direct benefits included tighter control of the
Unit’s
activities and improved methods of financial
reporting to Comhairle Members.
- Using capital
investment, the Board was able
to replace a large proportion of the Comhairle’s
non-technical vehicle fleet with more versatile
vehicles which can be
used for
a wide range of community purposes.
- Securing the
public bus service contracts for the Point-Back
and Huishinish routes enabled
Bus na Comhairle to reinvest
in new buses and retain 22 jobs for drivers.
- The
Cleansing Section of the COU came up with a unique
design idea for a recycling vehicle
for the kerbside
collection
of recyclates in Stornoway.
Looking Ahead
In 2004/05, the Board will be looking at
ways to introduce a COU senior management structure.
The new structure
will be designed to allow for greater management
control at
a local level as well as creating better career
opportunities for staff and improving flexibility in decision-making.
The
Board also plans to establish a facilities management
function aimed at using land allocated to the Board’s
activities to its full potential and bringing improvements
to the
management of the working environment.
The COU
is planning a major overhaul of its Marybank
office and depot in 2004/05. The prefabricated
buildings which the
COU currently uses as office accommodation for
staff are now falling into disrepair. The new
offices will
bring benefits
to both staff and the local community by providing
a safer, more energy-efficient and accessible
work space
and creating
a great improvement in the visual and environmental
impact of the site.
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