Business Enquirer Magazine Issue 122 | Norwich City Council | Feb'24

NEW ERA OF LEADERSHIP: NORWICH CITY COUNCIL WELCOMES LOUISE RAWSTHORNE AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE

NEW ERA OF LEADERSHIP: NORWICH CITY COUNCIL WELCOMES LOUISE RAWSTHORNE AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE

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orwich City Council is entering a new chapter of governance and strategic development with the recent confirmation of Louise Rawsthorne as its permanent Chief Executive. This decision, unanimously approved by the full council on April 28, 2023, marks a significant step forward in the council's ongoing efforts to address the complex challenges facing local governments in the UK today.

A Proven Leader for Challenging Times Louise Rawsthorne brings to the role an impressive portfolio, showcasing 13 years of senior leadership experience in local government. Prior to her appointment, Rawsthorne had been a pivotal figure at Norwich City Council since 2021, first serving as the executive director of community services and later as interim chief executive. Her career trajectory also includes influential positions at the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and Babergh and Mid Suffolk Councils, where she honed her expertise in housing, economy, property, regeneration, and commercial companies.

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Chief Executive Louise Rawsthorne

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NORWICH CITY COUNCIL The Rigorous Path to Leadership The process leading to Rawsthorne's appointment was thorough and competitive. The recruitment drive attracted a talented pool of external candidates and was meticulously overseen by interview panels comprising crossparty councillors, external stakeholders, and colleagues. This rigorous process underscores the council's commitment to excellence and its determination to identify a leader capable of steering Norwich through the complex landscape of modern local governance.

Vision for Norwich: Inclusivity, Ambition, and Trust In her initial address following the council's decision, Rawsthorne expressed deep gratitude for the trust placed in her and articulated a clear vision for the city.

She intends to cultivate an environment of inclusivity, ambition, and trust, aligning with the council's broader strategic goals.

Alan Waters, the leader of the city council, lauded Rawsthorne's authentic style of leadership, emphasizing its critical role in achieving the council's ambitions for the city.

Navigating Financial Constraints and Operational Challenges

Houses on the River Wensum

Louise Rawsthorne assumes her role at a time when UK local governments face unprecedented financial and operational challenges. Norwich City Council, while in a more stable position than some counterparts, is not immune to these pressures. The council recently navigated a £6.2 million budget cut for 2023-24, a stark contrast to the more dire situation of Birmingham City Council, which grapples with a £760 million equal pay claim.

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Norse Group: Improving People’s Lives Across the UK Celebrating 35 years in business this year, Norse Group is the UK’s largest local authority trading company (LATCO), owned solely by Norfolk County Council. With its HQ in Norwich, the group is one of the city’s largest employers and has a daily impact on the lives of its residents.

Although, as its ownership implies, a high proportion of its work is carried out in Norfolk, Norse supports local authorities and businesses across the UK, employing 8500 people nationwide.

“Norse’s growth has been careful and consistent,” explained Justin Galliford, CEO. This considered approach has seen the business achieve a turnover of around £350 million across three pillars of business.

The facilities management company’s core vertical is Norse Commercial, which accounts for around 70% of the business turnover. The frontline service encompasses catering, cleaning, grounds maintenance, highways maintenance, housing repairs, FM and security, as well as waste and environmental management.

The remaining business income is split between Norse Consulting, the umbrella for its property consultancy services, and Norse Care, which provides elderly care services to 1000 people in 30 care homes.

“Our range of services and the experience of our team gives partner organisations the confidence to concentrate on their core operations,” said Justin.

Key to Norse’s success is the long-term joint ventures it has nurtured, with Justin citing the shared ownership of the model as a key factor in building trust with its customers.

“Whilst Norse operates as a commercial business, we understand the challenges and nuances that come with the public sector,” he said, “we operate at a commercial pace whilst maintaining a public sector ethos”.

Norse has worked in a joint venture agreement with Norwich City council for 10 years, supplying them with a suite of services including both housing and ground maintenance.

In addition, it has worked with other councils across Norfolk for 17 years handling their recyclable waste, as well as providing ad hoc services such as out of hours contact centres and security.

As well as operating in its East Anglian heartland, Norse also has partnerships in areas such as Newport, Waltham Forest, Exeter Leeds, and Essex.

“We take a forward-thinking and quality-driven approach to our services, ensuring that we deliver the right solutions for our clients’ needs, whilst supporting the communities in which they operate,” Justin shared.

food insecurity and make sure no one in the region goes hungry. Norse provides warehouse and logistics support to ensure food is delivered to the hubs.

Now, Norse wants to use its foundation of building pioneering joint venture relationships to evolve its offering to clients, with a strong focus on governance and ESG.

“The rising cost of living seems to be increasing household food insecurity, and nationally the use of food banks is rising. So far, Nourishing Norfolk Network has supported 26,000 families, and we are very proud of that valuable impact,” said Justin.

Internally, the business has made a commitment to achieve net zero by 2050. However, at the front of its mind is what additional value and impact it can bring to its customers and partners.

Justin also represents the business on a prison Employment Advisory Board, helping prisoners find employment upon release – thus reducing their likelihood to reoffend.

“We are currently exploring a group-wide suite of measures for ESG, which our local authority clients would benefit from,” explained Justin, “this includes implementing alternative, sustainable fuel for our fleet of refuse trucks”.

“If we can support prison leavers into employment they are 50% less likely to reoffend, which in turn saves the £50,000 cost per year to house a person in prison. The value we provide partners on this front has both social and economic benefits,” Justin continued.

The business also helps local authorities to decarbonise existing housing estates as well as create new, affordable, low carbon homes.

On its mission to support more communities across the UK, Norse is developing a solid pipeline, with a further eight joint ventures in the offing, which is supported by an increased demand in waste, housing, and highways services.

In addition to sustainability, Norse provides high levels of social value to its local authority partners, tackling the likes of food poverty by supporting initiatives such as Nourishing Norfolk Network.

Set up in 2022 by the Norfolk Community Foundation, the network provides food hubs across Norfolk to help combat

“We aim to continue the development of our customerdriven offering, which includes upgrading our back office to be more responsive, ensuring we are “match fit” for AI integration, and able to continue our growth across the UK and our support for the Norfolk economy” Justin closed.

Strategic Focus: Projects and Personnel Rawsthorne's tenure begins amidst significant organizational changes within the council. Notably, the council is advertising for three senior roles – executive director of housing and communities, executive director of resources, and director of finance, signaling a strategic reshuffling at the top levels. Concurrently, the council is advancing key projects, such as the £250,000 revamp of Kett’s Heights in Thorpe Hamlet, which aims to enhance public accessibility and enjoyment of this historic site.

A Future Anchored in Community and Growth Louise Rawsthorne's leadership comes at a crucial time. Her experience, coupled with her inclusive and ambitious vision, positions her uniquely to lead Norwich City Council through these challenging times. With a focus on both internal restructuring and community-centric projects, Rawsthorne is set to embark on a journey that promises not just to navigate the immediate challenges but also to lay down a robust foundation for the city's future.

As Norwich City Council turns this new page, the expectations are high, but so is the confidence in Rawsthorne's ability to lead with integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to the community she serves. The council, under her stewardship, is poised to redefine local governance, making a tangible impact on the lives of Norwich’s citizens and setting a precedent for other councils across the nation.

www.norwich.gov.uk

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Norwich Market viewed from the castle

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NORWICH CITY COUNCIL www.norwich.gov.uk

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