A clean city, a conference and Annual Council

Keeping the city clean 

In my view, getting the right people for the right  jobs is utterly important. Monday started with interviews for a vital post of Head of Cityclean and City Parks – within Geoff Raw’s directorate. Four candidates had been shortlisted and two came through the challenging assessment centre. Richard Bradley was successful and I really look forward to him joining us later in the summer. Richard is making the big move from the wonderful North East to the sizzling South coast, and I hope everyone will give him a warm welcome. 

Richard Bradley

On Tuesday I had a conversation with two of our Cityclean staff as they emptied the communal recycling bins at the bottom of Grand Avenue. The aptly named Dave Binns has been with us for nine years and his youthful colleague Rob Reid for 25 years. Both think that the communal recycling bins will help us increase our recycling rates, and make it easier for citizens to recycle. I think the evidence is that we need to do more to nudge people towards recycling and to make littering completely unacceptable. We are currently working up some plans for this. Any ideas from you will be most welcome.

Dave Binns and Rob Reid

Recognising the role of Adult Social Care 

I know only too well the challenges of recognising and responding to the needs of our ageing population and the important minority of our citizens who are vulnerable and challenged through poor health, disability, addictions or homelessness. People of all ages and social situations can also be rendered unsafe and in need of protection from those around them. All of this, and more, is the day to day work of colleagues in Adults and Children’s Services. For many years I was a social worker, and then a manager, trying to make a difference to improving lives, as our colleagues do now. And on Wednesday, I joined a great many staff, and partners from other organisations, for their development conference. 

At the Adult Social Care conference

It began with two carers telling their stories and underlining the value they put on the assessment and support they have received from our ASC colleagues. It is enabling them to support their disabled, needy loved ones at home, and to have some quality of life themselves. Carers save our country billions of pounds. The conference also featured the filmed testimony of two adults who had benefitted from our safeguarding practice. Later case studies were worked on together. In the week that the Care Bill became an Act, and the role of professional Social Work is regaining its proper place, it was an honour to address the conference alongside our assistant director Brian Doughty, executive director Denise D’Souza, and lead member Rob Jarrett.  

Denise D'Souza and Brian Doughty

Mayor making

Another part of my role is to advise the Mayor as she or he chairs Full Council – sometimes quite a challenging role for them. Sitting at the front of the meeting I gain a particular view of proceedings. 

And this week was our Annual Council, where the outgoing Mayor is thanked and the in-coming Mayor is formally elected. This took place on Thursday and saw Cllr Denise Cobb make an emotional speech about what her Mayoral year had meant to her as she handed over the red robes and mayoral chains to Cllr Brian Fitch, the new Mayor and first citizen of Brighton and Hove. He introduced his wife, Norah, as Mayoress, and also  spoke of his aspirations for this mayoralty which he intends to be characterised by  themes of peace and harmony.

I am now going into today’s meetings on various topics: European elections planning; schools and achievement; refuse and recycling and a follow up session with a city businesswoman who heard me speak at the 'How Women Lead' event a while back. 

And I just hope that after all that, the glorious and warming sun that’s streaming in on me now continues over the weekend as promised. 

Best wishes
Penny 

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