Busy week around the county

 This week has been fun – lots of out and about around the county. On Tuesday I was privileged to meet Lord Heseltine with our Leader Jane Scott to discuss our strategic economic plan for Wiltshire. He is always insightful and I do like the way he sees life, whether political, social or economic and is able to expertly link these areas of public policy. The government will be announcing on Monday which aspects of our economic plan they will support. We are expecting a positive outcome from which we can get on and deliver the projects that will provide additional high value jobs and homes throughout the county for the next six years. This is important for all service areas as people and families in good jobs are able to thrive and live their lives as they wish.

On Wednesday I visited one of our Chippenham depots (we have two… one ex district and one ex county – I’m on that case) to meet our waste service loaders and drivers. We do this a couple of times a year where we share the sort of information and discussion that we have in the staff forums that we recently ran across the county. I’m very proud of our waste service – it touches every household every week and provides a very high quality service right across the county. It’s also one of the biggest services we provide – costing us around £30m per year to collect and dispose of our waste.

Next week I am meeting up with political leaders and chief executives from across the country at the Local Government Conference in Bournemouth. This is an important opportunity to shape national and local government policy and to ensure the voice of Wiltshire, its communities and residents is heard loud and clear on the national stage. Most Wiltshire Council political group leaders are attending for the same purpose.  

Speak again soon when I hope we can celebrate a first English test victory of the summer (I may have said that last time, but it it didn’t happen). 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

Holiday Reading

Whilst on holiday the week before last I read a great book by Michael Neill called “Supercoach: 10 secrets to transform anyone’s life.”  I am usually highly sceptical about books with such titles (usually written by PhDs) that claim to fix everything, but I was at Bristol airport with nothing to read and I was in the mood to study something about coaching. So I paid my money…

And wow did I learn some great things about coaching, thinking and working inside out rather than the other way round. Michael’s book is packed with incisive ideas, experiences, real world stories of what has worked and how for both coaches, those being coached – in fact anybody trying to make sense of the stuff happening in their lives and around them. I share below his 10 secrets and you really need to read it.  

1. The world is what you think it is. You are creating your experience of the world moment by moment.

2. Well being is not the fruit of something you do; it is the essence of who you are. There is nothing you need to change, do, be, or have in order to be happy.

3. There's nowhere for you to get to - you're just here

4. What you decide will never impact your life as much as how you handle the consequences of that decision.

5. Every emotion you experience is a direct response to a thought, not the world around you.

6. No matter what seems to be going on in your life, you don't have to do anything. Everything you do (or don't do) is a choice.

7. You create other people by how you listen to them.

8. You can ask for anything when you make it okay for them to say "no".

9. Financial security doesn't come from the amount of money you currently have; it comes from your ability to get more of it whenever you want. Master the art of serving others and you will secure your financial future.

10. There is never a good reason not to hope.

Speak again soon when I hope we can celebrate a first English test victory of the summer. 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”

European election and council's strategic direction

My first blog for a few weeks after a very busy European election period and then a week off!

The Euro election went very well indeed thanks to the near 1,000 staff, volunteers and others who worked so hard under the leadership and guidance of the elections team. Elections are always a tense time as there is so much at stake for both the candidates, political parties and the wider electorate. The count on the Sunday went quickly and we were all finished by around 6pm – 4 hours ahead of the deadline to return the results to the regional returning officer. Fortunately we required no recounts.

On Monday this week we met with Cabinet to start a series of conversations leading to the development of the strategic direction of the council over the next five years plus. The changing landscape of the public sector, social policy, austerity, next years’ general election, and most importantly the priorities for local elected members are all factors that we need to consider and plan ahead for. It was an energising discussion and a good start to the process.

For those of you interested in coaching to develop both your performance and that of others, you should be aware that the next coaching network event is planned for July 2. For any of you aspiring to coach others, perhaps as part of your management or leadership role then do please come along and find out what we’re up to. There are about 30 of us involved thus far but this is growing steadily.

  

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

Staff forums and Euro elections ...

I’m looking forward to meeting and presenting at the Trowbridge staff forums today. About 800 of you have signed up and Jane, Carolyn, Maggie and I will run through and celebrate some of the achievements of the past six months and talk about the future – the outcomes we seek for the county, our priorities and some of the challenges we face too. The format this spring is a little different too so please feedback what you think. And please ask lots of questions...

The Euro election preparation is moving toward its climax next week. We have received, opened, scanned and checked over 30,000 postal votes and training for polling station presiding officers and clerks is well underway. This morning I shall be meeting the election team to review the Trowbridge verification centre layout (similar sessions in Malmesbury, Devizes and Salisbury) to ensure that we are all prepared. The count will be on the Sunday in Christie Miller, Melksham. Exciting stuff for us election junkies.

Earlier in the week I met with Balfour Beatty and Wiltshire Council highways management to work together on our collaborative organisation development. This is so important to get right to address some of the issues that we have faced over the last few months. We made good progress.

  

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

Looking forward to meeting staff at the forums starting today

Today sees the first of our six spring staff forums; we’re in Salisbury today (2 sessions), Chippenham tomorrow (2 sessions) and Trowbridge on Friday 16th for the final sessions. We have over 1,000 staff booked so far so if I could encourage you to book a place to attend one of these event please. It’s important that we update each other on the significant changes happening in the county and our organisation and they are always a valuable way of receiving your feedback on what is happening in the business at the moment and into the future. We are using a slightly different format for these events as we try and keep them fresh and relevant to as many people as possible.


The European election is in full swing. We started opening postal votes this week (we have over 50,000 registered to receive postal votes which must be one of the highest amounts in the country). Plans are in place for election day on May 22, the verification on May 23 (where we count the number of ballot papers in each box to determine the number cast and the overall turn out), the formal count is on Sunday May 25 where we will submit the local Wiltshire votes cast for each party to the South West Regional Returning Officer who will add our numbers to the other areas in the south west and declare an overall result. I just want to thank the many hundreds of staff whom have volunteered to support the election throughout the county over the three days of what is a bank holiday weekend. I do appreciate it.     
 
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