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Clive Kyle is a man of many hats and a familiar face about town - for whom reducing crime rates, protecting the environment, IT wizardry and playing Cupid are all in a day's work! In Focus followed in the footsteps of the Council's Assistant Director of Building Control Services to explore what a typical day brings his way.
"There's one thing my job isn't, and that's monotonous I never know what I'll be faced with each morning! I'm continuously trouble shooting and always challenged, but that's what keeps my days interesting,"
Clive explains. Starting as a trainee in building control for the Council almost 30 years ago, Clive went on to develop the role to include other functions. His extensive responsibilities range from property maintenance to the co-ordination of emergency planning for the Council - a role that can require his services at any time of the day.
"My job often spills into the weekends when I do a lot of 'on call' work, which isn't always a bundle of laughs! For instance, when I'm glued to the Irish Rugby Team's World Cup efforts and get a call about a flooded property in a nearby village then spend the weekend organising clearance of a blocked storm drain! So like every job, it has its ups and downs!" Clive adds.
Clive is keen to stress that he is "very well supported by a talented 'squad', whose hard work and commitment ensure that systems run smoothly on a daily basis."
His building maintenance and property management roles range from minor works - such as new heating systems at community centres to maintenance of complex heating and water recovery systems at the prestigious new Braid centre.
Following the old adage, 'variety is the spice of life', Clive's entertainment licensing remit can involve granting marriage licenses in extreme locations on one day - and inspection of fire protection and health and safety standards at local pubs, clubs and hotel premises the next!
"We work closely with the Police, Environmental Health Department and local traders to maximise the potential of the town centre - from improving night time economy to reducing crime rates," Clive explained, adding: "This can include emergency situations - such as regular late night calls reporting overcrowding at entertainment premises or break-ins at Council properties
- problems that require immediate Police attention".
A merry seasonal responsibility is the joy of digging out and dusting down miles of Christmas lights and decorations. The arduous task of testing the festive flood lighting starts in August - and over the course of several months, Clive's team test, wash, replace and rewire tens of thousands of bulbs. While the very thought of it is enough to leave the rest of us mere mortals all wired up, Clive claims it's one of the most satisfying parts of his job. A rapidly developing element of Clive's role is environmental management services, supported by Energy and Environmental Management Systems Officer,
Dr Heather Thompson. "It is crucial that we assess and measure the impact of all Council services on the environment in order to protect and maintain our surroundings. To date, this has included projects such as switching from oil to gas boilers at Seven Towers Leisure Centre and moving our building maintenance fleet to dual fuel vehicles, resulting in cost savings and lower
CO 2 emissions.
"At the end of the day, it's playing a part in the kind of progress that makes a lasting impact on Ballymena which makes my job truly rewarding," concluded Clive.
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Ballymena Borough Council © 2006 | T: 08456 581 581 | E: council.reception@ballymena.gov.uk |
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