7.1 — weeknotes — Happy New Year — Public Sector Challenge…

Hope we all had a good break over the festive period, I know I certainly needed it and was great to be able to switch off for a bit. Although I was on Gold call for certain periods over the break, luckily all was quiet.

Have to say I was ready to come back to work and get stuff sorted. While I hate the decorations coming down the house always looks so clean and tidy when they are down.

Whilst lots achieved last year there is even more to do this year, so spent a lot of time this week thinking about the year and energising ourselves to ensure that we can be as efficient as possible in getting the right things done.

Tuesday was at London Councils for a London Emergency Planning meeting. I was going to say as part of my new role, but it’s been a year since I’ve had Resilience. Really good meeting, first one I’d been to as I’m now chairing the West London Resilience Board. Lots of work in this area over the next 12 months.

Wednesday in Hounslow with the management team doing some service planning and thinking for the year ahead. Starting as always with a breakfast to set us up for the day! We covered a range of topics over the day with a focus on what we need to do to deliver against everything we need to over the next 12 months. From staffing and savings to plans and pipelines and everything in between.

Thursday was the first Digital Strategy Board of the year and continuing the theme of reviewing spending some time thinking about priorities and what we need the Board to evolve into to ensure a more strategic view. We need to prioritise more with so much going on and a challenging financial environment. Was a really good board and a number of changes that we need to make as we move forwards.

Was lovely to see a little bit of snow in the week. Although almost fell over when I walked to the shop in the week — styled it out and then looked around to make sure no one saw.

A week to go until the ‘Hounslow Hackers’ (there are about 10 of us from Digital in Hounslow) are doing the 25km London Bridge Walk as part of the Public Sector Challenge — really looking forward to it — it better be a bit warmer! London Bridges Walk — Public Sector Challenge

I know it’s a tough time of the year, but we’d welcome it if you are able to donate to a very very good cause.

Hounlsow Hackers are fundraising for Cancer Research UK

Tune of the week: George Ezra — Green Green Grass (Official Video)