Challenging Times

As if my intray wasn't already groaning, the Chief has now come up with a fresh initiative to bind us all together. It is more than my job is worth not to urge you all to participate. They insist it is going to be "fun".

I like a laugh

A load of bankers

It is very easy in this fast moving arena to make an arithmetical error. That is why we always employ expensive experts to advise us of potential financial risks. And how was I to know it would all go belly up? Ok so Cornwall has only lost £5 million. And we locked £25 million away. But what am I expected to do about it?

Tonight's Extended Management Team Event

I wasn't invited. I am still just a humble County Council employee (at Corporate Director level). But tomorrow morning I have no doubt my confidantes will fill me in on the 'hard' work done at Ashton Court by the Extended Management Team of SouthWest One - all 150 of them (that's 75 complete rubber chickens if they end up with one leg each)! There are other, closer, venues. But this is the place to be seen. SouthWest One is a whole year old - plus just a couple of days. And, my oh my, what a year. We have had to revise some of our plans - that was inevitable. Perhaps we will save £50 million less than we thought we would. So what. HBOS got the sums wrong too. And Bradford & Bingley. And Ashton Court Manor does not come cheap. Tonight I will raise a glass to the superhuman efforts of the whole SouthWest One workforce and peruse the timetable of what must have been an awe-inspiring event. Aspirins at dawn, gentlemen (and ladies)!

Extended Management Team Meeting
2nd October 2008
Ashton Court Manor, Bristol

Running Times and Agenda

12:30 Bus leaves Taunton

13:00 Bus leaves Portishead (to be confirmed based on numbers)

13:15 Registration opens

13.45 Elective Session 1
· SAP – Finance and Procurement
· SAP – HR and Payroll
· People Excellence Model
· Organisation Design

14:15 Break – Transfer between Elective sessions

14:30 Elective Session 2
· SAP – Finance and Procurement
· SAP – HR and Payroll
· People Excellence Model
· Organisation Design

15.00 Pre-meeting tea/coffee

15.30 Main Meeting Agenda
· Introduction and SWO progress to date Paul Lyons 15 mins
· Market perspective Peter Radford 15 mins
· Transformation update Alan Thurlow 15 mins
· ICT service update Jon McElhill 15 mins
· Councils Business Services update Brian James 15 mins
· Police Business Services update John Adby 15 mins
· Client Perspective tbd 15 mins
· Open Forum and Q&A 15 mins

17.30 Pre-dinner drinks

18.30 Dinner (set tables with places allocated)

20.15 Dinner ends

20:30 Event ends - Buses leave

GOD SAVE OUR QUEEN?

We all look up the Chairman. Flamboyant thespian he may be, but courtesy is vital in local government and the Chairman is the most important figure. He has to preside over council meetings. He has to be a cross between an angel and a monarch. In fact I can picture him in a crown. Or a tiara. But now, it is suggested, his regal wings are about to be singed by that austere body the Standards Board of England. I am all too familiar with the Standards Board, having given evidence in a case all too familiar to me – and perhaps also to you. The Standards Board can rap knuckles if a councillor ever loses his or her temper. Think what they can do if serious allegations of misusing official expenses are proven. The Chairman is accused of siphoning off expenses for his own purposes. The Chairman has a reputation for liking the limelight and the luxuries that go with it. And, for once, the Chairman’s long friendship with the Chief Executive may do him no favours. I wish him a fair trial. But he must be ready for a swift execution. That’s what happened to Mary Queen of Scots. Errant queens, even skatboarding ones, are skating on thin ice this time.

MANY RETURNS

SouthWest One is a year old on September 29th. There is little to celebrate, except more work: FOI requests from the unions and interfering outsiders.

BOXES

I have several of these waiting for collection at County Hall. Perhaps those who have caused me pain, heartache and over-work during the past weeks will now do the decent thing and take the paperwork away. I haven't had a proper day off for so long because of this wretched affair. You know who you are.