Have you ever wondered what Guernsey’s States Works do? Here’s a snapshot for 2019:
- 215 emergency call outs
- Waste management services to more than 60% of Guernsey households
- Removed 600 litres of crude oil that had risen to the surface
- Consciously propagating considerably more pollinator plants
- Emptied 162,709 loads from cesspits for 5,500 customers not connected to the main wastewater network
- Community Environmental Projects Scheme (CEPS) provides temporary work and training opportunities for islanders who are not working due to unemployment or long-term illness. 44 islanders were engaged through
CEPS. Of these, 19 subsequently secured employment, with 14 retaining a position through to the end of the year. - Awarded ISO9001:2015 accreditation (again)
- Number of compliments outweighed the number of complaints
- 32 reported health & safety incidents in 2019, which is significantly below the five year average of 78
- Sickness absence at States Works fell by more than a third last year.
General manager Paul Lickley said the improvement in sickness absence was the result of proactive measures introduced in recent years to promote safety and wellbeing. Accidents and days lost due to injury in 2019 were less than half the average over the last five years.
“Obviously the health & wellbeing of our staff is a priority, and we have made considerable efforts in promoting a positive health & safety culture throughout the businesses. I think we are seeing the benefits of that approach, which is very pleasing,” he said.
The figures are detailed in States Works 2019 Annual Report, which is published today.
Revenues for the year were up by more than 10%, to £17.1 million. The additional income came from a combination of new clients for existing services and a major new contract for the new waste management facilities at Longue Hougue.
During 2019, 23 complaints were received from the public, compared to 21 in 2018; but it was fewer than the number of compliments, which was up to 33, compared to 21 in 2018.
2019 was the first full year of the new household collection arrangements, introduced in September 2018, which contributed towards the increase in revenue. States Works was also awarded the contract for parish waste and recycling collections in Castel, starting from 1 January 2019. It now provides this service to around 60% of local households.
The operating contracts for the new waste transfer station and Household Waste & Recycling Centre at Longue Hougue also commenced in the first half of 2019.
States’ Trading Supervisory Board Member John Hollis, who chairs the States Works board, said the results were achieved despite the budgetary pressures faced by States of Guernsey committees, who provide the majority of States Works’ business: “The management team must also be acknowledged for how they engaged with clients, to help them adapt to tighter budgetary constraints while seeking to mitigate – or at least minimise – any impact on frontline services. As a result, they successfully negotiated the renewal of all key public sector contracts,” he said. “As always, we are indebted to our staff, who often work in extremely challenging situations and at unsociable hours. The island can rightly be proud of their endeavours and grateful for their enduring contribution.”
A copy of the Annual report can be found here.
