Michael Edwards for South Derbyshire

Controversy in Nottingham, as changes occur at the top of the City Council.  And articles in the local newspaper have created a huge response, negative as it happens about all parties involved, including the Audit Commission.   

At a time of notoriety, it is difficult to retain the perspective, which led the Audit Commission for instance to be overwhelmingly positive about the City Council in its annual asessment.  Picking up on what is celebrated  -

Over the last 3 years, the public’s satisfaction with their council has risen from +27% to +39%, whilst other councils have gone backward.  “Overall satisfaction with the Council is above average”

External assessments of Use of Resources have awarded the same marks, despite the test being sterner.

“Educational attainment has improved significantly, and at a faster rate than other councils”.  Judged by a “combined value-added” (CVA) rating (which measures progress given the social and economic challenges the pupils of a school face), Nottingham is ranked 28^th out of 149 nationally for progress at its secondary schools and 10^th out of 149 for progress at key stage 4 (years 10 & 11).      

“Street cleanliness has improved significantly. The Council has expanded its recycling scheme … Resident satisfaction with street cleanliness and recycling has increased markedly”

“... a reduction in the number of overall crimes as measured by British Crime Survey”

Praise for economic development work.  “The Market Square regeneration has had a beneficial impact on the city centre”

The council “has improved its performance overall in children’s services and adult social care services”

Retained excellence in Housing benefits.

“Partnership working is improving outcomes for local people”

Praise for engagement with community and minority groups.  On diversity –“in the top 25 per cent and it is improving performance in the duty to promote equality” and one of the few councils to achieve Equality Standard 3.  

“The first phase of the new contact centre has focused on high volume services, and very high levels of queries are dealt with at the first point of contact. Customer satisfaction is high.”

“Plans are well integrated”  “64 per cent of those Corporate Plan PIs for which data is available are meeting or exceeding target”  “Revised performance management reports enable a greater focus on underperformance.” 

It’s not the total picture and nor does it cover the plans we have for further improvement, or the budget just passed which moves more money to strategic & policy priorities than ever.   

But it’s a shame that in all the correspondence generated, there’s little recognition of the progress and achievements and quality being achieved by the Council.   

Controversy in Nottingham, as changes occur at the top of the City Council.  And articles in the local newspaper have created a huge response, negative as it happens about all parties involved, including the Audit Commission.   

At a time of notoriety, it is difficult to retain the perspective, which led the Audit Commission for instance to be overwhelmingly positive about the City Council in its annual asessment.  Picking up on what is celebrated  -

Over the last 3 years, the public’s satisfaction with their council has risen from +27% to +39%, whilst other councils have gone backward.  “Overall satisfaction with the Council is above average”

External assessments of Use of Resources have awarded the same marks, despite the test being sterner.

“Educational attainment has improved significantly, and at a faster rate than other councils”.  Judged by a “combined value-added” (CVA) rating (which measures progress given the social and economic challenges the pupils of a school face), Nottingham is ranked 28^th out of 149 nationally for progress at its secondary schools and 10^th out of 149 for progress at key stage 4 (years 10 & 11).      

“Street cleanliness has improved significantly. The Council has expanded its recycling scheme … Resident satisfaction with street cleanliness and recycling has increased markedly”

“... a reduction in the number of overall crimes as measured by British Crime Survey”

Praise for economic development work.  “The Market Square regeneration has had a beneficial impact on the city centre”

The council “has improved its performance overall in children’s services and adult social care services”

Retained excellence in Housing benefits.

“Partnership working is improving outcomes for local people”

Praise for engagement with community and minority groups.  On diversity –“in the top 25 per cent and it is improving performance in the duty to promote equality” and one of the few councils to achieve Equality Standard 3.  

“The first phase of the new contact centre has focused on high volume services, and very high levels of queries are dealt with at the first point of contact. Customer satisfaction is high.”

“Plans are well integrated”  “64 per cent of those Corporate Plan PIs for which data is available are meeting or exceeding target”  “Revised performance management reports enable a greater focus on underperformance.” 

It’s not the total picture and nor does it cover the plans we have for further improvement, or the budget just passed which moves more money to strategic & policy priorities than ever.   

But it’s a shame that in all the correspondence generated, there’s little recognition of the progress and achievements and quality being achieved by the Council.   

Controversy in Nottingham, as changes occur at the top of the City Council.  And articles in the local newspaper have created a huge response, negative as it happens about all parties involved, including the Audit Commission.   

At a time of notoriety, it is difficult to retain the perspective, which led the Audit Commission for instance to be overwhelmingly positive about the City Council in its annual asessment.  Picking up on what is celebrated  -

Over the last 3 years, the public’s satisfaction with their council has risen from +27% to +39%, whilst other councils have gone backward.  “Overall satisfaction with the Council is above average”

External assessments of Use of Resources have awarded the same marks, despite the test being sterner.

“Educational attainment has improved significantly, and at a faster rate than other councils”.  Judged by a “combined value-added” (CVA) rating (which measures progress given the social and economic challenges the pupils of a school face), Nottingham is ranked 28^th out of 149 nationally for progress at its secondary schools and 10^th out of 149 for progress at key stage 4 (years 10 & 11).      

“Street cleanliness has improved significantly. The Council has expanded its recycling scheme … Resident satisfaction with street cleanliness and recycling has increased markedly”

“... a reduction in the number of overall crimes as measured by British Crime Survey”

Praise for economic development work.  “The Market Square regeneration has had a beneficial impact on the city centre”

The council “has improved its performance overall in children’s services and adult social care services”

Retained excellence in Housing benefits.

“Partnership working is improving outcomes for local people”

Praise for engagement with community and minority groups.  On diversity –“in the top 25 per cent and it is improving performance in the duty to promote equality” and one of the few councils to achieve Equality Standard 3.  

“The first phase of the new contact centre has focused on high volume services, and very high levels of queries are dealt with at the first point of contact. Customer satisfaction is high.”

“Plans are well integrated”  “64 per cent of those Corporate Plan PIs for which data is available are meeting or exceeding target”  “Revised performance management reports enable a greater focus on underperformance.” 

It’s not the total picture and nor does it cover the plans we have for further improvement, or the budget just passed which moves more money to strategic & policy priorities than ever.   

But it’s a shame that in all the correspondence generated, there’s little recognition of the progress and achievements and quality being achieved by the Council.   

Having enjoyed a good breakfast, I attend a conference meeting on health and climate change.  I then listen as the kind of diseases that are going to be more prevalent are listed out and explained.  I felt decidely queasy.

(The Department of Health have just updated their report on the health effect and climate change.)

It reminded me of "Three Men in a Boat", when one of the characters finds a book on diseases and conditions, and as he reads through them is disturbed to find that he exhibits symptons of all of them. 

The most powerful point on the session was though, that a nine-day heatwave is likely to kill 3,000 people, with a further 3,000 dying through the whole summer. 

I sense we as a nation are nowhere prepared enough for such a heatwave. 

In particular, the importance of cooling the body down at night, by being in a room at 19 degrees centigrade if not sufficiently understood.  Nor are the Mediterranean practices of wearing hats, drawing the curtains and spraying with water. 

The LGA launched 5 themes for action on climate change and no. 4 pertains to heatwaves.  So it's something to pick up on.

Having enjoyed a good breakfast, I attend a conference meeting on health and climate change.  I then listen as the kind of diseases that are going to be more prevalent are listed out and explained.  I felt decidely queasy.

(The Department of Health have just updated their report on the health effect and climate change.)

It reminded me of "Three Men in a Boat", when one of the characters finds a book on diseases and conditions, and as he reads through them is disturbed to find that he exhibits symptons of all of them. 

The most powerful point on the session was though, that a nine-day heatwave is likely to kill 3,000 people, with a further 3,000 dying through the whole summer. 

I sense we as a nation are nowhere prepared enough for such a heatwave. 

In particular, the importance of cooling the body down at night, by being in a room at 19 degrees centigrade if not sufficiently understood.  Nor are the Mediterranean practices of wearing hats, drawing the curtains and spraying with water. 

The LGA launched 5 themes for action on climate change and no. 4 pertains to heatwaves.  So it's something to pick up on.

Having enjoyed a good breakfast, I attend a conference meeting on health and climate change.  I then listen as the kind of diseases that are going to be more prevalent are listed out and explained.  I felt decidely queasy.

(The Department of Health have just updated their report on the health effect and climate change.)

It reminded me of "Three Men in a Boat", when one of the characters finds a book on diseases and conditions, and as he reads through them is disturbed to find that he exhibits symptons of all of them. 

The most powerful point on the session was though, that a nine-day heatwave is likely to kill 3,000 people, with a further 3,000 dying through the whole summer. 

I sense we as a nation are nowhere prepared enough for such a heatwave. 

In particular, the importance of cooling the body down at night, by being in a room at 19 degrees centigrade if not sufficiently understood.  Nor are the Mediterranean practices of wearing hats, drawing the curtains and spraying with water. 

The LGA launched 5 themes for action on climate change and no. 4 pertains to heatwaves.  So it's something to pick up on.

A colleague from Notts County Council who looked after me when I was first a County Councillor is a big Evertonian and since I was in Liverpool, I arranged to meet him before the match.  And there was a spare ticket. 

So I go, but unprepared (wearing a suit and a windcheater) bolting sausage rolls and a very wide beef pie (and a bovril), in the hope it will keep me warm.   

I'm with 41,000 Everton fans in what turns about to be one of the most exciting games, probably of the sesaon. 

Everton needed 2 goals to draw and got their first in 16 minutes. Game on. 

But they start to lose their way in the second half and after 10 minutes of hapless play, Arteta lines up to shoot from way out.  I shout "no" thinking he's got better pass options - which shows how much I know about football - and it bends in to the far side of the net. 

Everton had chances to win outright, but by the time it's got to penalties, you sense the Italian club is better trained and they win with 4 penalties all placed away from when the keeper seemed to be diving (I seem to recall).

So a defeat for Everton when they deserved better.  And their fans have to leave in front of tauntong Fiorentina supporters shouting in exagerrated (very strange) deep husky voices - "Yeer-vah-pooool".

By now I'd lost my friends, the policeman on a horse says following the crowd to the Riverside - Albert Docks is only 20 minutes later.  There seems to be a catch to this phrase in Liverpool - everywhere seems to be 20 minutes away.  One hour later, I finally get to my hotel.   

A colleague from Notts County Council who looked after me when I was first a County Councillor is a big Evertonian and since I was in Liverpool, I arranged to meet him before the match.  And there was a spare ticket. 

So I go, but unprepared (wearing a suit and a windcheater) bolting sausage rolls and a very wide beef pie (and a bovril), in the hope it will keep me warm.   

I'm with 41,000 Everton fans in what turns about to be one of the most exciting games, probably of the sesaon. 

Everton needed 2 goals to draw and got their first in 16 minutes. Game on. 

But they start to lose their way in the second half and after 10 minutes of hapless play, Arteta lines up to shoot from way out.  I shout "no" thinking he's got better pass options - which shows how much I know about football - and it bends in to the far side of the net. 

Everton had chances to win outright, but by the time it's got to penalties, you sense the Italian club is better trained and they win with 4 penalties all placed away from when the keeper seemed to be diving (I seem to recall).

So a defeat for Everton when they deserved better.  And their fans have to leave in front of tauntong Fiorentina supporters shouting in exagerrated (very strange) deep husky voices - "Yeer-vah-pooool".

By now I'd lost my friends, the policeman on a horse says following the crowd to the Riverside - Albert Docks is only 20 minutes later.  There seems to be a catch to this phrase in Liverpool - everywhere seems to be 20 minutes away.  One hour later, I finally get to my hotel.   

A colleague from Notts County Council who looked after me when I was first a County Councillor is a big Evertonian and since I was in Liverpool, I arranged to meet him before the match.  And there was a spare ticket. 

So I go, but unprepared (wearing a suit and a windcheater) bolting sausage rolls and a very wide beef pie (and a bovril), in the hope it will keep me warm.   

I'm with 41,000 Everton fans in what turns about to be one of the most exciting games, probably of the sesaon. 

Everton needed 2 goals to draw and got their first in 16 minutes. Game on. 

But they start to lose their way in the second half and after 10 minutes of hapless play, Arteta lines up to shoot from way out.  I shout "no" thinking he's got better pass options - which shows how much I know about football - and it bends in to the far side of the net. 

Everton had chances to win outright, but by the time it's got to penalties, you sense the Italian club is better trained and they win with 4 penalties all placed away from when the keeper seemed to be diving (I seem to recall).

So a defeat for Everton when they deserved better.  And their fans have to leave in front of tauntong Fiorentina supporters shouting in exagerrated (very strange) deep husky voices - "Yeer-vah-pooool".

By now I'd lost my friends, the policeman on a horse says following the crowd to the Riverside - Albert Docks is only 20 minutes later.  There seems to be a catch to this phrase in Liverpool - everywhere seems to be 20 minutes away.  One hour later, I finally get to my hotel.   

Chaired a presentation on financing integrated transport yesterday with Sue Flack, who was a Nottingham City Council transport officer when I was chair of transport. 

Sue started the drive to Workplace Parking Levy and we are now on our way to introducing it in 2010. 

We'd both been led to believe that Ruth Kelly had dropped the ambitions for a national road pricing scheme last week so it was a surprise to hear that Alistar Darling is making money available for the technology for in in the Budget that he announced yesterday.

TO BE COMPLETED; HACKED IN AT PACE ON SOMEONE'S ELSE COMPUTER; TO BE UPDATED.

Chaired a presentation on financing integrated transport yesterday with Sue Flack, who was a Nottingham City Council transport officer when I was chair of transport. 

Sue started the drive to Workplace Parking Levy and we are now on our way to introducing it in 2010. 

We'd both been led to believe that Ruth Kelly had dropped the ambitions for a national road pricing scheme last week so it was a surprise to hear that Alistar Darling is making money available for the technology for in in the Budget that he announced yesterday.

TO BE COMPLETED; HACKED IN AT PACE ON SOMEONE'S ELSE COMPUTER; TO BE UPDATED.

Chaired a presentation on financing integrated transport yesterday with Sue Flack, who was a Nottingham City Council transport officer when I was chair of transport. 

Sue started the drive to Workplace Parking Levy and we are now on our way to introducing it in 2010. 

We'd both been led to believe that Ruth Kelly had dropped the ambitions for a national road pricing scheme last week so it was a surprise to hear that Alistar Darling is making money available for the technology for in in the Budget that he announced yesterday.

TO BE COMPLETED; HACKED IN AT PACE ON SOMEONE'S ELSE COMPUTER; TO BE UPDATED.

As reported in this Tuesday's Nottingham Evening Post, I lost the position of Deputy Leader of Nottingham City Labour Group on Monday night.  My term as Deputy Leader of the City Council finishes in May. 

It is the strength of politics that the winners are those who manage to command the most support in the arenas that they seek to lead. 

Politics is decisive in ways managerial or technological approaches cannot be. 

And I was defeated by the same process that first elected me. 

So I will reflect on my time in office. 

I'll publish a statement soon on what I feel I achieved in my time. 

As reported in this Tuesday's Nottingham Evening Post, I lost the position of Deputy Leader of Nottingham City Labour Group on Monday night.  My term as Deputy Leader of the City Council finishes in May. 

It is the strength of politics that the winners are those who manage to command the most support in the arenas that they seek to lead. 

Politics is decisive in ways managerial or technological approaches cannot be. 

And I was defeated by the same process that first elected me. 

So I will reflect on my time in office. 

I'll publish a statement soon on what I feel I achieved in my time. 

As reported in this Tuesday's Nottingham Evening Post, I lost the position of Deputy Leader of Nottingham City Labour Group on Monday night.  My term as Deputy Leader of the City Council finishes in May. 

It is the strength of politics that the winners are those who manage to command the most support in the arenas that they seek to lead. 

Politics is decisive in ways managerial or technological approaches cannot be. 

And I was defeated by the same process that first elected me. 

So I will reflect on my time in office. 

I'll publish a statement soon on what I feel I achieved in my time. 

To the LGA Sustainable Communities conference in the new Arena in Liverpool.  The Arena is a striking addition to the famous Mersey waterfront.

One first day session saw 4 officials give presentations on environmental leadership and not one of them mentioned that leaders need to win votes and elections to make a difference.

So I said something - and was challenged -

How can enivornmental themes win votes? 

Have we learnt the lessons from the recent Australian General Election where climate change was seen to be a decisive issue? 

I think there is an important to make the environment a disctinive and forward looking part of our pitch.  Greater focus on improving the energy efficieny of homes, even the energy generarting capacity of devices on the home and better local public transpoirt schemes could all be attractive to voters and reasuring as energy prices look set to rise and as concerns about reliance on energy supplies from abroad grow. 

TO BE COMPLETED; HACKED IN AT PACE ON SOMEONE'S ELSE COMPUTER; TO BE UPDATED.

To the LGA Sustainable Communities conference in the new Arena in Liverpool.  The Arena is a striking addition to the famous Mersey waterfront.

One first day session saw 4 officials give presentations on environmental leadership and not one of them mentioned that leaders need to win votes and elections to make a difference.

So I said something - and was challenged -

How can enivornmental themes win votes? 

Have we learnt the lessons from the recent Australian General Election where climate change was seen to be a decisive issue? 

I think there is an important to make the environment a disctinive and forward looking part of our pitch.  Greater focus on improving the energy efficieny of homes, even the energy generarting capacity of devices on the home and better local public transpoirt schemes could all be attractive to voters and reasuring as energy prices look set to rise and as concerns about reliance on energy supplies from abroad grow. 

TO BE COMPLETED; HACKED IN AT PACE ON SOMEONE'S ELSE COMPUTER; TO BE UPDATED.

To the LGA Sustainable Communities conference in the new Arena in Liverpool.  The Arena is a striking addition to the famous Mersey waterfront.

One first day session saw 4 officials give presentations on environmental leadership and not one of them mentioned that leaders need to win votes and elections to make a difference.

So I said something - and was challenged -

How can enivornmental themes win votes? 

Have we learnt the lessons from the recent Australian General Election where climate change was seen to be a decisive issue? 

I think there is an important to make the environment a disctinive and forward looking part of our pitch.  Greater focus on improving the energy efficieny of homes, even the energy generarting capacity of devices on the home and better local public transpoirt schemes could all be attractive to voters and reasuring as energy prices look set to rise and as concerns about reliance on energy supplies from abroad grow. 

TO BE COMPLETED; HACKED IN AT PACE ON SOMEONE'S ELSE COMPUTER; TO BE UPDATED.

The manager of Shrewsbury Town Football Club left the club on Monday.   A real surprise since he’d been there for a few years and as a result, had reached the top 20 of the longest serving managers.   

Time was when a manager change was a significant event.  The shock when Harry Gregg resigned back in 1972 reverberated for some days.   

You felt Shrewsbury were sticking with Gary Peters.  Not I’m sure, because of his personality.   

The litmus test for the character of football managers is their expected response to the question “Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?”   

The classic is for Arsene Wenger - “From my position in the dug-out I could not see the incident clearly.”   

For Gary Peters, the response is - “The chicken hasn’t crossed the road, it’s merely stepped off the kerb in a solid way and there is a long way to go.”  Yes, he was that pessimistic.   

But he did get us to one of the first competitive matches at the new Wembley.  A wonderful occasion.  A day to remember, even though we lost.  But the match to remember was the win at Milton Keynes Dons that got us to Wembley, delivered through his tactical guile and team organisation.   

It’s for that reason that despite frustration with his changes to the squad and the poor run of form, I suspect that Salop fans will remember him kindly.   

The manager of Shrewsbury Town Football Club left the club on Monday.   A real surprise since he’d been there for a few years and as a result, had reached the top 20 of the longest serving managers.   

Time was when a manager change was a significant event.  The shock when Harry Gregg resigned back in 1972 reverberated for some days.   

You felt Shrewsbury were sticking with Gary Peters.  Not I’m sure, because of his personality.   

The litmus test for the character of football managers is their expected response to the question “Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?”   

The classic is for Arsene Wenger - “From my position in the dug-out I could not see the incident clearly.”   

For Gary Peters, the response is - “The chicken hasn’t crossed the road, it’s merely stepped off the kerb in a solid way and there is a long way to go.”  Yes, he was that pessimistic.   

But he did get us to one of the first competitive matches at the new Wembley.  A wonderful occasion.  A day to remember, even though we lost.  But the match to remember was the win at Milton Keynes Dons that got us to Wembley, delivered through his tactical guile and team organisation.   

It’s for that reason that despite frustration with his changes to the squad and the poor run of form, I suspect that Salop fans will remember him kindly.   

The manager of Shrewsbury Town Football Club left the club on Monday.   A real surprise since he’d been there for a few years and as a result, had reached the top 20 of the longest serving managers.   

Time was when a manager change was a significant event.  The shock when Harry Gregg resigned back in 1972 reverberated for some days.   

You felt Shrewsbury were sticking with Gary Peters.  Not I’m sure, because of his personality.   

The litmus test for the character of football managers is their expected response to the question “Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?”   

The classic is for Arsene Wenger - “From my position in the dug-out I could not see the incident clearly.”   

For Gary Peters, the response is - “The chicken hasn’t crossed the road, it’s merely stepped off the kerb in a solid way and there is a long way to go.”  Yes, he was that pessimistic.   

But he did get us to one of the first competitive matches at the new Wembley.  A wonderful occasion.  A day to remember, even though we lost.  But the match to remember was the win at Milton Keynes Dons that got us to Wembley, delivered through his tactical guile and team organisation.   

It’s for that reason that despite frustration with his changes to the squad and the poor run of form, I suspect that Salop fans will remember him kindly.   

Today, I moved the most radical budget Nottingham City Council had ever undertaken.  (See previous entries.) 

And in the during the budget debate, the Lib Dems (joined by the Tories) contrived to undertake a walk-out. 

Is this some kind of copycat initiative following a Lib Dem walk out of Parliament?   

Local Lib Dems said not and I'm prepared to believe them.  Lib Dems do act like their party is a franchise rather than a national party. 

They claimed the amount of information available to them in the budget process was insufficient, but it was enough to fill a box file.  But before the walkout, they had not sought me out to explain their concerns.  Not one visit, one letter, one phone call, one e-mail. 

The public expect representatives to represent them and to act if there are probems - not walk away.  At the very least, they'd expect them to pick up the phone.

Today, I moved the most radical budget Nottingham City Council had ever undertaken.  (See previous entries.) 

And in the during the budget debate, the Lib Dems (joined by the Tories) contrived to undertake a walk-out. 

Is this some kind of copycat initiative following a Lib Dem walk out of Parliament?   

Local Lib Dems said not and I'm prepared to believe them.  Lib Dems do act like their party is a franchise rather than a national party. 

They claimed the amount of information available to them in the budget process was insufficient, but it was enough to fill a box file.  But before the walkout, they had not sought me out to explain their concerns.  Not one visit, one letter, one phone call, one e-mail. 

The public expect representatives to represent them and to act if there are probems - not walk away.  At the very least, they'd expect them to pick up the phone.

Today, I moved the most radical budget Nottingham City Council had ever undertaken.  (See previous entries.) 

And in the during the budget debate, the Lib Dems (joined by the Tories) contrived to undertake a walk-out. 

Is this some kind of copycat initiative following a Lib Dem walk out of Parliament?   

Local Lib Dems said not and I'm prepared to believe them.  Lib Dems do act like their party is a franchise rather than a national party. 

They claimed the amount of information available to them in the budget process was insufficient, but it was enough to fill a box file.  But before the walkout, they had not sought me out to explain their concerns.  Not one visit, one letter, one phone call, one e-mail. 

The public expect representatives to represent them and to act if there are probems - not walk away.  At the very least, they'd expect them to pick up the phone.

I was interviewed by a BBC journalist at the end of the Spring Conference.  With his notepad and pen, I think he wanted to record disappointment, but I’d found the conference useful and purposeful.  Had Blair been more exciting?  Yes, but Brown’s content was good and we (and the public) had wanted a change and more focus on the issues.  Recently, the party had published 9 medium term issues to face up to - Cameron aping Blair on presentation meant he’d be ten years behind the game.  I don’t know how much he’ll publish.  (Well, I think I do.)   

I did say that Ken had been the star turn.  Now this is not because I’m a great fan of Ken Livingstone per se; he just had been very good on Friday.  And it is surprising to hear that polls put the Tory candidate close.   

Meanwhile, plenty of opportunities available to lobby Ministers, and even get a photo or two.   Ed Balls kindly posed with a hand-written poster I’d made to celebrate the achievements of the school I chair.  (Tip #47 - always carry a black felt tip marker pen.)   

The Fabian Society held a very good debate on the future of the heath service with Minister Ivan Lewis, and the psychoanalyst, Derek Draper.  Yes, that Derek Draper.  He’s calmed down a bit but was excellent to listen to.  Very provocative.  Pro-science.  Strong in the defence of the diagnoses of, & of the drugs available to cure, mental illness.  Disparaging of notions of the use of public money for choice, if the options included things that didn’t actually cure people.  I paraphrase, but so did Derek and it made it very entertaining.   

Birmingham is a great city.  Much changed from the 1979-82 when I studied there.  The International Convention Centre replaced Bingley Hall, a large brick building where I saw the Jam, and also UB40 & The Beat as part of the 1981 People’s March for Job rally.   

The city centre had been hugely transformed when Dick Knowles had been Leader of Birmingham City Council. Dick had died only a few days before the conference.  He was highly praised.  My memories are limited to signing songs with him in the back of a cttee. room (after Labour had beaten the SDP in one of the first direct electoral contests) and of a trip to Telford (where he’d been taken aback by development corporations subsiding the building of big houses to get the social mix of Telford New Town improved).  (He also had a cat called “Trotsky”). 

I was interviewed by a BBC journalist at the end of the Spring Conference.  With his notepad and pen, I think he wanted to record disappointment, but I’d found the conference useful and purposeful.  Had Blair been more exciting?  Yes, but Brown’s content was good and we (and the public) had wanted a change and more focus on the issues.  Recently, the party had published 9 medium term issues to face up to - Cameron aping Blair on presentation meant he’d be ten years behind the game.  I don’t know how much he’ll publish.  (Well, I think I do.)   

I did say that Ken had been the star turn.  Now this is not because I’m a great fan of Ken Livingstone per se; he just had been very good on Friday.  And it is surprising to hear that polls put the Tory candidate close.   

Meanwhile, plenty of opportunities available to lobby Ministers, and even get a photo or two.   Ed Balls kindly posed with a hand-written poster I’d made to celebrate the achievements of the school I chair.  (Tip #47 - always carry a black felt tip marker pen.)   

The Fabian Society held a very good debate on the future of the heath service with Minister Ivan Lewis, and the psychoanalyst, Derek Draper.  Yes, that Derek Draper.  He’s calmed down a bit but was excellent to listen to.  Very provocative.  Pro-science.  Strong in the defence of the diagnoses of, & of the drugs available to cure, mental illness.  Disparaging of notions of the use of public money for choice, if the options included things that didn’t actually cure people.  I paraphrase, but so did Derek and it made it very entertaining.   

Birmingham is a great city.  Much changed from the 1979-82 when I studied there.  The International Convention Centre replaced Bingley Hall, a large brick building where I saw the Jam, and also UB40 & The Beat as part of the 1981 People’s March for Job rally.   

The city centre had been hugely transformed when Dick Knowles had been Leader of Birmingham City Council. Dick had died only a few days before the conference.  He was highly praised.  My memories are limited to signing songs with him in the back of a cttee. room (after Labour had beaten the SDP in one of the first direct electoral contests) and of a trip to Telford (where he’d been taken aback by development corporations subsiding the building of big houses to get the social mix of Telford New Town improved).  (He also had a cat called “Trotsky”). 

I was interviewed by a BBC journalist at the end of the Spring Conference.  With his notepad and pen, I think he wanted to record disappointment, but I’d found the conference useful and purposeful.  Had Blair been more exciting?  Yes, but Brown’s content was good and we (and the public) had wanted a change and more focus on the issues.  Recently, the party had published 9 medium term issues to face up to - Cameron aping Blair on presentation meant he’d be ten years behind the game.  I don’t know how much he’ll publish.  (Well, I think I do.)   

I did say that Ken had been the star turn.  Now this is not because I’m a great fan of Ken Livingstone per se; he just had been very good on Friday.  And it is surprising to hear that polls put the Tory candidate close.   

Meanwhile, plenty of opportunities available to lobby Ministers, and even get a photo or two.   Ed Balls kindly posed with a hand-written poster I’d made to celebrate the achievements of the school I chair.  (Tip #47 - always carry a black felt tip marker pen.)   

The Fabian Society held a very good debate on the future of the heath service with Minister Ivan Lewis, and the psychoanalyst, Derek Draper.  Yes, that Derek Draper.  He’s calmed down a bit but was excellent to listen to.  Very provocative.  Pro-science.  Strong in the defence of the diagnoses of, & of the drugs available to cure, mental illness.  Disparaging of notions of the use of public money for choice, if the options included things that didn’t actually cure people.  I paraphrase, but so did Derek and it made it very entertaining.   

Birmingham is a great city.  Much changed from the 1979-82 when I studied there.  The International Convention Centre replaced Bingley Hall, a large brick building where I saw the Jam, and also UB40 & The Beat as part of the 1981 People’s March for Job rally.   

The city centre had been hugely transformed when Dick Knowles had been Leader of Birmingham City Council. Dick had died only a few days before the conference.  He was highly praised.  My memories are limited to signing songs with him in the back of a cttee. room (after Labour had beaten the SDP in one of the first direct electoral contests) and of a trip to Telford (where he’d been taken aback by development corporations subsiding the building of big houses to get the social mix of Telford New Town improved).  (He also had a cat called “Trotsky”).