EU referendum and a personal best

Yesterday I met with the managers and team leaders from across all of my service areas to update them on the wider national, corporate, political and service issues facing us all. We discussed devolution, business rate retention and the changes to local government financing as well as the key policy issues that the leadership team are currently working on, such as asset transfers to town councils, as well as the year end budget position for the team and the challenges we face during this year. It was a good conversation with lots of opportunities for questions and answers.   

Attendees then broke into their service teams, facilitated by the Associate Directors, to work shop our approach to the ’17-18 budget and develop an initial list of ideas to achieve the savings we need next year. I was pleased to see the enthusiasm in all of the teams and the quality of thinking and ideas generated, many of which are radical which is always good. We now have a long shopping list of items to work up over the next few months. Thank you to all those who participated. 

We are right in the planning and preparation phase for the EU Referendum which as you’ll know is taking place on June 23. Well over 1,000 people will be working on the day and through the night, but I’m still short of poll station presiding officers and poll clerks. So I need some volunteers please. It’s a great experience to work on elections and referendums, so if you’ve not been involved before please call or email me and we’ll get you involved. Whichever way the vote goes, it will be a historical night so do please come along.

Finally, I smashed my personal best for the 10 mile time trial on Wednesday evening with a time of 25 minutes 10 seconds. A time in the 25’s was my personal goal this year so I’ve now revised that down to 24 minutes anything before the end of the season. I might need a skin suit though…

Speak again soon. For daily updates, discussion, personal opinion, comment or just to connect or keep in touch you can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/drcarltonbrand.

Carlton

A big thank you

Just a very short blog today to thank all of our staff, their families and friends who were involved in the Police & Crime Commissioner election last Thursday and Friday – well over 1,000 of you across the county. Many of you worked from 6.30am on the Thursday to 4.30am Friday for which I am hugely grateful and thank you. It was a long day and with such a large and spread out county, with four counting venues it always presents some logistical challenges. As ever, these were met head on and addressed.

My special thanks to the elections team led by John Watling. The planning, training, and well thought out preparation again meant that we delivered a robust and accurate election. You’re all a pleasure to work with. 

Speak again soon. For daily updates, discussion, personal opinion, comment or just to connect or keep in touch you can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/drcarltonbrand.

Carlton