Roy's last day ...

"Director of Children and Families" last day today!

Spent an 'all-too-brief' 9-months working directly with Roy, which I thoroughly enjoyed ... hope he has a long and happy retirement.

Shockingly, the Senior Management team at the Council now has a female Director (Roy's replacement) ... surely some mistake ;-)

Another depressing contrast with Glasgow comes to mind ...

Director's Weekly Meeting ...

Director's weekly meeting yesterday morning - was such a frantic day thereafter that I didn't even have time to log on to the blog and register an entry ... shocking how time-consuming this democracy business is ;-))

Last Director's meeting of the current 4-year term ;-(

Director's meeting

Council life continues - despite the election fever - and had my weekly meeting with the Director of Children and Families this morning.

Only one or two more of these to go now before the big day!

Director's Weekly Meeting

Weekly meeting with the Director of Children and Families this morning ... not the usual 'Friday meeting slot' due to the Easter holiday period; thus a bit of catching-up to do.

Obviously been a bit of a quiet news period, with the Director's post itself attracting a bit of press comment yesterday ... anyhow, this didn't form the main basis of our weekly agenda! Second round of school-building programme (contract now finalised); Children's Services Inspection (ongoing); and many other such exciting issues to the fore ;-))

Director's Meeting ...

Director's meeting this morning ... should have mentioned before now, that City of Edinburgh Council has now agreed a replacement for the current Director when he retires in June 2007 - see here for further details.

Guess I've only got a handful of these meetings left now with the present incumbent ... whether by retirement (enforced or voluntary) they're going to come to an end soon ;-((

Weekly Director's meeting ...

Weekly Director's meeting and, despite the budget now being set, discussion still focused on the many practical implications of seeing through the decisions made.

Guess this is one very big difference between being in an administration and being in opposition - the 'opposition' never have to implement their budget proposals and can move on swiftly to other things once budget-day is out of the way.

If only that was the case for me ;-(

Weekly Director's Meeting

Really feels like I'm back in the regular work pattern now, with the Friday morning weekly meeting with the Director of Children and Families taking place as normal.

Budget issues still to the fore - we're back in front of the Budget review Group (BRG) this coming Wednesday, and that will be (I guess?) our final, formal pitch for a settlement figure before the actual revenue and capital budgets for 2007/08 are set on Thursday 8th February ... all not far away now!

It's all a bit of a dilemma for officers (in particular) and politicians this year, as we'll be setting a budget that will be 'picked up' by a new Administration - for certain. All due, of course, to the implementation of Single Transferable Vote (PR) for Scottish Local Government elections on May 3rd.

Now, despite my own best interests (or in spite of them!) I've always been a long-term supporter of PR ... I'm a Director of both the Electoral Reform Society and Chair/Director of Fairshare ... and am wholly supportive of the moves to STV-PR for local government elections.

It is indeed, all going to mean a period of political flux in Edinburgh - but I'm pretty certain the local authority will cope with the change (whatever that may be politically and administratively?) which will certainly happen in May.

There is no doubt it's going to be an interesting 6-months!

Weekly Director meeting

Weekly meeting with department Director this morning ... budget for 2007/08 still dominating general discussion.

Other topics covered ranged from Tynecastle to Portobello educational issues; from 'Children 1st" to 'school computer refresh programme'.

Director's Meeting

Director's weekly meeting this morning ... main topics under discussion continue to be the budget for 2007/08 and the financial closure (or not, to date) of the second-round of the school building programme.

Budget looking particularly tight, with no easy answers I'm afraid. I would say this wouldn't I ... but it really does appear to me that the 'services' for children and families are just in greater and greater demand - despite falling 'school' numbers - and this is leading to some systemic pressures for the future that are just not going to be easily addressed.

Frying pan and fire definitely come to mind ;-((

Director's Meeting and Waterfront Tour!

Director's meeting first thing this morning ... bit rushed, but managed to cover plenty of ground.

Tour of the Edinburgh Waterfront this afternoon ... in relation to new 'developments' and school provision. There does seem to be a high number of schools planned for the type of 'housing development' that is currently (and planned to be) at the Waterfront. Something to definitely follow up next week.

Director's Meeting, catch up, and evening off!

Weekly Director's Meeting first thing this morning - focused on links with Kenya, and departmental budget issues. Quite a contrast in tone and content!

A huge general catch up this afternoon - bit of mail backlog, but all successfully cleared.

... and an evening off tonight - thank goodness, it's been a frantic week but looking forward to the weekend and a bit of a rest! That said, have to do a local radio show tomorrow (Saturday) morning ... I do usually enjoy these events and hoping that tomorrow will be no different ;-)