That end of term feeling

This week has had a real end of term air about it.

Working across the region

Last Friday Becky Shaw, chief executive of East Sussex County Council and I followed Giles York, the chief constable, in addressing the annual Lieutenancy Conference.  Here, Lord Lieutenant Peter Field and his deputy lieutenants meet together to review the year and hear from leading partners. The Lieutenancy takes as its themes; helping individuals, helping communities, and helping industry. So Becky and I took these themes and updated the conference on the work that we are doing in the county, in the city and together on these topics. It ranges from work with establishing the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub to the progress with Greater Brighton and driving jobs and our economies. We all agreed that our challenges are shared ones and include helping people to help themselves while also managing public expectation; making more of collaboration as we face our shared financial challenges; making best use of the digital age; and responding to the vibrant politics.

Becky Shaw, Peter Field, Giles York amd me

Social work conference

On Tuesday, I had the honour of opening our Children & Young People’s Social Work conference. As someone who spent 12 years in children’s social work before becoming a manager, this conference held a particular importance for me. And I was truly moved to be able to listen to Jenny Molloy, also known as ‘Hackney Child’.

Jenny Molloy (@HackneyChild) 

Jenny Malloy

Jenny and I talking afterwards

Jenny and I follow each other on Twitter and she is someone who has become a passionate advocate of good social work. She gives powerful testimony to the vital role social workers played in her life, helping her to break the cycle that saw her parents in the care system and brought her and her brothers into the care system in turn. Jenny is a true expert by experience and she had the whole huge Amex Stadium conference room paying keen attention as she spoke of her life experiences. It was quite clear that her story was both inspiring and valuing of those in the room in equal measure.

Fiyaz Mughal from our One Voice programme also spoke at the conference. He talked about the radicalisation of young people and the importance of relationships in communities and between individuals.

Fiyaz Mughal

The job our social workers do is often poorly understood and I for one applaud them for what they do and am pleased to see their role as key to our whole purpose – providing civic leadership for the wellbeing and aspiration of Brighton & Hove.

Working as one organisation

The end of term theme is an appropriate one for the day we spent as a Corporate Management Team on Wednesday. Our purpose was to review the achievements from the last four years and to share the learning and to consider the staff survey as it relates to CMT in particular. We also considered how we tackle the cross-cutting issues that will face us over the coming years. It was a lively, positive day, where we recognised the value of working corporately as one organisation to tackle our challenges, both financial and strategic.

At the awayday

On the way to the session I marvelled at the beauty of the sculptural pier, its strength and yet its fragility. Perhaps this is a comparison for those of us leading in public service.



The beautiful West Pier



Final meetings

The final momentous end of term experience this week was Full Council last night. With a rich mix of public questions and petitions, approval of key plans and strategies including our Corporate Plan, Medium Term Financial Strategy, Local Transport Plan and Housing Strategy. The 54 councillors were taking some important decisions in preparation for a future, but many of them will not personally be part of. The evening was also marked by some moving and generous tributes paid to those standing down, including very long serving councillors from all parties and of course the leader of the Council, Jason Kitcat.

Full council last night

Earlier this week Councillor Kitcat chaired his final Corporate Parenting Board where we fulfil our obligations to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our children in care. He also chaired his final meeting of the Health & Wellbeing Board where tribute was paid to the vision and courage showed by councillors in moving to a more ambitious role for the board providing system leadership to health, social care and wellbeing in the city.

Preparing for election

So councillors will now be preparing themselves for the election. Our Elections Team are working hard in preparation. I am delighted that this year the whole of the Executive Leadership Team will be supporting me on the day and the night, to make sure we bring the best of our management to ensuring free, fair and transparent elections for both the parliamentary constituencies and the whole council. And it's worth reminding everyone that the Purdah period starts this Monday 30 March.

Personal impact

As well as having an end of term feel this week has made me think a good deal about personal impact. The impact of managers leading, like myself, who need to inspire confidence and promote working together while providing sound advice, challenge and listening. In summary being demonstrably an accountable officer. I have also witnessed the personal impact of Jenny Molloy, whose life experiences, learning and readiness to change have so much to teach us. And then there is the personal impact of our elected members whose public service is given in the interests of improving the lives of all citizens and ensuring the city continues to be a fabulous place in which to live, work and visit. Don’t let us underestimate the importance of personal impact and putting it to positive use in all we do.

Finally, on a personal note can I say thank you and great good fortune to Jenny Hughes who retires from the council and the role of PA to chief executive after almost 26 years. Thank you Jenny for all you have done and enjoy more time for running, horse-riding and gardening, you’ve earned it!

Goodbye to Jenny

Best wishes
Penny