Weeknotes — 2019 11 15

Week 8 — Two months — really?

So really not sure where that time has gone.

I turned into a grumpy old man this week, I can already hear the surprise from you! Another train story I am afraid. Oh, and as an aside the man with fold up bike still hasn’t learnt that perhaps it is better to wait for the crowd of people to get on the train first before you try and attack as many people’s shins as possible with your bike. Anyway I digress. Train on Thursday — two young ladies — very stereotypical angry teenagers — sitting there with feet up on the chairs — not letting people sit down, bags and food all over the place. I hadn’t seen such behaviour before on the trains since I started at Hounslow. Not a single piece of rubbish was picked up (I ended up picking up a couple of bits that they threw on chairs opposite me). Just made me reflect the difficult job that Councils have in trying to get communities to be cohesive and help others when individuals behave like this and not even caring for themselves let alone others.

Some work highlights…

Monday

Met with our new Director of Public Health — Kelly O’Neil — was nice that there is now someone who has joined the Council after me. We had a great introductory meeting about what we are up to in Hounslow and the Digital Ambitions we have. Having been part of the Communities Directorate in Kingston with Public Health I was used to the challenges and opportunities that Public Health has! Data was a big theme of our discussions and certainly lots that we will be able to work together.

Tuesday

I went to our Corporate Leadership Group to present back some of the initial findings of my discovery from the first couple of months. It was a brief but honest assessment of what I am finding! But more importantly some of the detail of the ‘stuff’ that needs to be done to enable to transformation of the Council. Fortunately, It was well received and moving on to planning the detail of the next steps to develop the strategy and start to implement some of the changes required.

I went to meet colleagues in Hounslow Highways to meet the team and understand what they do and what the opportunities that we have together. Have to say there is a very impressive setup with lots of opportunities in the future. They took me through the changes the various systems and some of the tech, including a live example of being able to pinpoint a lamp post and turn it on and off remotely. Proof in the picture — probably the most exciting picture ever!

We also had some training in the evening on some of the approaches and responsibilities of the one Hounslow program sponsors.

Wednesday

As we are in pre-elections preparation I won’t go into too much of this, this week, but will share in future weeks. Wednesday evening was the launch of the LOTI city tools . Bringing together information on the tools and systems used across London in one place as well as trying to make sense of the services that are provided.

Thursday

More than two people have said to me this week. Wow you have a lot to do don’t you…. That led to today spending some time continuing to think and develop turning the discovery into plans. So there is lots to do but there is time to ensure we get the planning and arrangements right across the Council to ensure we get it right!

Tune of the week — Galantis & Dolly Parton — Faith