Corporate Services

Corporate Services plays a key role in the corporate management and direction of the authority and provides a policy advisory and monitoring function across the full range of the county council's activities.

What do we do?

• We provide key corporate and business support services to the council as a whole.
• We provide a number of important direct services to the public such as the registration of births, deaths and marriages.
• We maintain the integrity of the Councils decision making processes and standards of conduct.
• We administer a number of other services with close links to the council, most notably the Durham Police Authority and the Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Authority.
• Equality And Diversity team

Lesley Davies - Acting Director of Corporate Services

My vision is for a Corporate Services which is confident in the knowledge that it is at the centre of the County Council, has support of CMT and the Chief Executive and is recognised by key figures in the Council as being fundamental to driving forward the Council's plans and priorities. The style of the service is one of pro-activity. It will initiate and deliver key projects which will strengthen the Council and the communities which the Council serves.

The service is one which constantly looks to achieve better value for money both in respect of its own service and across all other services within the Council.

Corporate Services has a strong focus on performance with a clear commitment to achieving the objectives set out in this Operational Plan. All of our Divisions are clear who their customers are and what needs they have for advice, support, direction and (where necessary) control.

Corporate Services celebrates creativity and innovation by staff in furthering the work of the service and encourages staff at all levels to try new approaches to delivering quality services.

The culture of Corporate Services is to "own" problems which are brought to it so that the customer feels supported; never to blame others but to take the lead on finding solutions.

Staff in Corporate Services are acutely aware that we work in a political organisation where Elected Members want information on issues affecting their Electoral Division. The political sensitivity of staff at all levels within Corporate Services is highly valued.

Above all my vision is that Corporate Services should be a good place to work where our people feel valued and are empowered to "make a difference".

Corporate Services Operational Plan 2006-2007 (45 pages, 371kb)

Lesley Davies
Acting Director of Corporate Services
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UL
Fax: 0191 3834206
Corporate Services