The authorities should not be employing people who's role is to "correct" personal opinion.
Maybe not, but it wouldn't be a full-time job...for anyone. It also wouldn't be solely to correct opinion, but merely an extra medium with which to engage the public. Things that a press officer, or similar, would do as a part of their usual duties.
Lifts:- Old Goat, with respect, you don't know all the facts. When the lifts are awaiting repair, the Parking department no longer directly manages the problem, and we wait for other departments to do their job. We can only wait for the engineers to say, "They're working again now!" The council hires lots of external contractors nowadays to save money, so its actually in their hands...we're just staff. If it was up to me, i'd be chasing up the issue everyday, until it gets resolved, but it just doesn't work like that!!
The lifts were installed with the car park in 1989, and parts are a nightmare to obtain. A lift replacement scheme would cost hundreds of thousands, which isn't pratical in the current economic climate in West Berkshire Council. Besides, its not the lifts, but the help buttons inside...
Brian:- A CEO is always on the other end of the help button to assist. But, if the display says "Please Wait", what else to you expect us to do? The wait is never more than 30 seconds (that is a fact) which is a little annoying i suppose, but its not a massive amount of time is it? We are also reliant on the computer system, which is generally automatic. We can't override it in terms of ticket printing, so everyone must display patience. I apologise, but not much
Greenham:- I've taken it upon myself to join, only to try and correct peoples sometimes strange opinions about parking and the council. I wish there was an official West Berkshire presence on here, if only to be more accessible to the general public, but I can never see that happening. As soon as I rumbled (if I am) I'm off!!
I personally manage a large number of contracts. However, I actually monitor whats going on and where there are delays apply pressure. That's called 'contract management'. Much of private industry works like that. For lifts, 1989 is very recent - someone is spinning a line. Our office block in Central London has three lifts - one dated 1911, the other two 1968. All safe all maintained regularly all working.
Without teaching the Council Staff to suck eggs, might be worth looking at the management processes and starting to challenge the contractors. Of course the lift needs replacing....would you like a quote!
It's all personal opinion one broadcast across the pub, the other broadcast across the world. The authorities should not be employing people who's role is to "correct" personal opinion.
If a media organisation publishes something that is untrue or illegal that's a different matter.
We aren't asking for opinions to be "corrected" but the facts where they have been wrongly portrayed - of course perhaps those that complain here have their facts correct, and as usual in your embarressment on your employers behalf you are trying to gloss over the facts!
I personally manage a large number of contracts. However, I actually monitor whats going on and where there are delays apply pressure. That's called 'contract management'. Much of private industry works like that. For lifts, 1989 is very recent - someone is spinning a line. Our office block in Central London has three lifts - one dated 1911, the other two 1968. All safe all maintained regularly all working.
Without teaching the Council Staff to suck eggs, might be worth looking at the management processes and starting to challenge the contractors. Of course the lift needs replacing....would you like a quote!
Im not going to engage in silly point scoring with other members. The lifts are being sorted as quickly as possible. The council apologies profusely. End of. If you think otherwise, then perhaps you actually work for the lift contractors or the Facilities department of the council, in which case you probably know more than I do? (but I guess not, eh?)
Im not going to engage in silly point scoring with other members. The lifts are being sorted as quickly as possible. The council apologies profusely. End of. If you think otherwise, then perhaps you actually work for the contractors or the Facilities department of the council, and know more than I do? (but I guess not, eh?)
Thank you. However, I think you've wholly missed the point. This isn't being personal but it really does not answer the question. Why is it taking so long to fix the lifts? What has been said so far does tend to suggest and again I'll say this carefully, that there has been little focus on 'making it happen'. Yes, its in hand and yes, if the Council managers are too busy with other higher priority stuff - OK let us know. If we think the priority is wrong, we can then start talking to local councillors; either to alter priority calls or provide more resource. I do not work directly for the Council but I do know how they and their contractors operate. I agree one thing - its futile to continue this particular debate here.
The problem isn't easlily diagnosable. It's not as simple as a broken cable or jammed door unfortunatley, I wish it were! The issue is with the help point communication system, and I think that we are trying to repair it, rather than replace the entire system (which would obviously cost more money than waiting for it to be repaired, and of course, these days, its all about money) Because the lifts are old, as previously stated, it is delaying the process. We have had engineers visit the site numerous times in the last few weeks, and I'm sure that if they could have, they would have repaired them by now.
Some people (not neccessarily you, Old Goat) assume that if they don't see any action, then nothing is happening. Quite the opposite. We have the contractors' best guys working on the problem, but we're not their only customers as I'm sure you understand.
I want them working as quickly as possible, just like you. I use the car park too!!!!
The problem isn't easlily diagnosable. It's not as simple as a broken cable or jammed door unfortunatley, I wish it were! The issue is with the help point communication system, and I think that we are trying to repair.
The problem is that should the lift jam with passengers inside, they have no way of contacting anyone to get help. Anyone with an ounce of telecom knowledge could probably install a new system to resolve the problem for less than £1000.00.
The problem is that WBC seem to use contractors/equipment that outdate very quickly.
Let me give you another example (not quite as technology intensive as a lift telephone) You may have noticed a serious deterioration of the cobbles in the Market Place. In fact in several areas they have been replaced with tarmac. The reason that we have to wait so long for the repairs to be undertaken is that a specialist team from Portugal have to be employed to rectify the situation (before the winter frosts set in and the whole thing cracks up). I understand that this specialist team will be appearing on site in mid September.
If a seat in the Market Place is damaged and needs replacing, we have to wait six months for a new one to be imported from China.
The problem isn't easlily diagnosable. It's not as simple as a broken cable or jammed door unfortunatley, I wish it were! The issue is with the help point communication system, and I think that we are trying to repair it, rather than replace the entire system (which would obviously cost more money than waiting for it to be repaired, and of course, these days, its all about money) Because the lifts are old, as previously stated, it is delaying the process. We have had engineers visit the site numerous times in the last few weeks, and I'm sure that if they could have, they would have repaired them by now.
Some people (not neccessarily you, Old Goat) assume that if they don't see any action, then nothing is happening. Quite the opposite. We have the contractors' best guys working on the problem, but we're not their only customers as I'm sure you understand.
I want them working as quickly as possible, just like you. I use the car park too!!!!
Hope I've answered your question.
GM61
Thank you very much for that. I appreciate the explanation and yes you have answered fully.
The problem is that should the lift jam with passengers inside, they have no way of contacting anyone to get help. Anyone with an ounce of telecom knowledge could probably install a new system to resolve the problem for less than £1000.00.
The problem is that WBC seem to use contractors/equipment that outdate very quickly.
Let me give you another example (not quite as technology intensive as a lift telephone) You may have noticed a serious deterioration of the cobbles in the Market Place. In fact in several areas they have been replaced with tarmac. The reason that we have to wait so long for the repairs to be undertaken is that a specialist team from Portugal have to be employed to rectify the situation (before the winter frosts set in and the whole thing cracks up). I understand that this specialist team will be appearing on site in mid September.
If a seat in the Market Place is damaged and needs replacing, we have to wait six months for a new one to be imported from China.
I worked on contracts for many years in the private sector. Penalties were always written into the contracts to ensure things got done on time and spares and repairs were held. For some reason the Council legal team doesn't work like this.
The problem isn't easlily diagnosable. It's not as simple as a broken cable or jammed door unfortunatley, I wish it were! The issue is with the help point communication system, and I think that we are trying to repair it, rather than replace the entire system (which would obviously cost more money than waiting for it to be repaired, and of course, these days, its all about money) Because the lifts are old, as previously stated, it is delaying the process. We have had engineers visit the site numerous times in the last few weeks, and I'm sure that if they could have, they would have repaired them by now.
Some people (not neccessarily you, Old Goat) assume that if they don't see any action, then nothing is happening. Quite the opposite. We have the contractors' best guys working on the problem, but we're not their only customers as I'm sure you understand.
I want them working as quickly as possible, just like you. I use the car park too!!!!
Hope I've answered your question.
GM61
The lifts are still out of order so how long is that now.........
The lifts are still out of order so how long is that now.........
This was discussed (again) at the Town Centre Partnership meeting on Friday and we were advised by the Chief Executive that the lifts were working perfectly but they could not be allowed back into service until the problems with the telephones were resolved.
Is there anyone out there who could advise West Berkshire Council on a basic telecoms solution?
If not then the lifts will stay out of service indefinitely.
This was discussed (again) at the Town Centre Partnership meeting on Friday and we were advised by the Chief Executive that the lifts were working perfectly but they could not be allowed back into service until the problems with the telephones were resolved.
Is there anyone out there who could advise West Berkshire Council on a basic telecoms solution?
If not then the lifts will stay out of service indefinitely.
That is unbelievable and for the CEO to admit to it being such a smple but unresolved problem must be a serious dereliction of his responsibilities. Someone is dragging their heels or WBC just don't want the lifts to be in operation. Am I missing something here.
That is unbelievable and for the CEO to admit to it being such a smple but unresolved problem must be a serious dereliction of his responsibilities. Someone is dragging their heels or WBC just don't want the lifts to be in operation. Am I missing something here.
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