6.17 — weeknotes — Manchester Conference — EDI — Socitm Pres Conf— Now, holiday!!!
Been a good couple of weeks and the bank holiday weekend was very welcomed. Although the weather was a bit mixed but still managed to have a great weekend.
Last week I was in Manchester for the LGPN conference and hosted a panel session with Sam from Socitm and Beena from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
The panel session was good, able to have a really good conversation about doing good with technology in local government. A massive range of topics were covered in 30 (ish) minutes… We may have run over but the conversation and questions were so good that I couldn't stop them…
Was a great conference and some good networking opportunities. Was a well-run conference as well, great conversation with the suppliers as well and many opportunities to exchange ideas and learn new things.
Manchester is a great city and I really enjoy going. Always like to have a wander when I’m staying in places and was good to have a walk to canal street and have a couple of beers.
Had a big TCE Board on Thursday as there is some work to reset the approach. A lot of work has gone in to reviewing the approach and ensuring everything is joined up. Focusing on delivery… A good meeting, and all in agreement with the way forward.
Hounslow has a commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity and over the past month or two all senior managers have had three half days on EDI training. Everyone has come out of the sessions saying just how amazing they have been. The last session has been about turning the learning into action based on our own data that OD colleagues have pulled together. They have been able to break that down by Directorate enabling us to really drive change across the council. Very powerful and very exiting in the future.
Just as we go into Pride month as well, makes it even more important to ensure that our organisations are safe spaces and representative of the communities that we serve.
Gearing up for the President Conference in a couple of weeks as well — as usual they are always great events and this promises to be amazing as well — find out more and sign up. Sad and excited to be handing over the chains to Carol — who is going to be an amazing President!
Digital strategy board yesterday, a light one due to half term but some great updates on the work going on now. Approved the approach to cloud migration and several updates on cyber, IG and Digital Inclusion. Again, some thinking about the future of what needs to go to DSB and how we do things — lots to think about here but all positive.
The General Election has been called for the 4th July — so the team has sprung back into life to prepare for that. The dust has only just settled on the London election, so we are in a good place. Looking forward to working with Kully and the awesome Elections team over the next month or so!
No weeknotes next week… Off to Sitges….
Tune of the week: Madonna — Holiday (Moreno J Remix)
