24 February 2011

I'm writing a day earlier than usual as I'm taking a day off tomorrow for half term with the boys. I've been getting my fishing tackle ready recently for the warmer weather so who knows - tomorrow might be the day!

On Tuesday the council set its budget for 2011-12. It was a marathon debate, lasting nearly seven hours (council actually lasted over twelve hours with all the other items on the agenda). I'm pleased to say that the business plan and budget were both approved without amendment. I want to encourage all staff to read the business plan. It's very readable and gives a very clear direction of travel for the organisation and how it will fulfil its vision and objectives over the the next four years. We're certainly in for a lot of change, but I think this is a good thing and means that we will be ready for everthing that we have to deal with. No 'head in the sand' or 'wait until it arrives' for us. We're ready.

My thoughts on the business plan and budget were reinforced on Wednesday. I spent the day in Birmingham chairing a round table event with other Directors of Resources and Business Transformation Directors. I don't do a lot of this so it was good to meet up with people who face similar challenges to our own and to be able to discuss and explore how we're all approaching common themes. For me it was a good acid test for how well our plans, programmes and actions on the ground stand up to other high performing organisations. I concluded that they stood up well, although there is always room for learning and improvement. Which is what we'll be doing...

Today I spent part of the morning in Salisbury at Bourne Hill. I met with the revenues and benefits teams, some planners and staff from registration. It was good to see them operating in the new building with their new ICT kit. I'm jealous that I'm not based there. The contrast with the East Wing was striking when I got back and went over to payroll. It served to remind me how important the refurbishment of County Hall is and how important it is to deliver that programme on time.

Thanks for reading and talk again next week.

Carlton