Change and uncertainty

On a week of the Holocaust memorial day, the red poppy bought for my birthday from the Tower of London exhibition arrived at home.

A poppy from the Tower of London

It will soon join another poppy in our garden and will stand as a constant reminder of the horrors of war; the brutality of man’s inhumanity to man and the selfless humanity of those who stood up and were counted.

So the theme this week could be one of conflict and compassion but instead I want to talk about change and uncertainty. 

Changing times

In our  regular consultation meeting with the trade unions on Monday, these themes underpinned our discussion on the budget and the actions to change this organisation. Our drivers for change include: reduced finances resulting from austerity; the expectations of an increasingly tech savvy population; the needs of a minority of residents who are becoming poorer and more frail; and the opportunity to learn from best practice. 

Change is coming. And we are treating this as an opportunity to reconsider our purpose as a local authority and to focus on our core principles, values and priorities. These will be set out at a high level in our Corporate Plan when it is agreed in March and in the budget when it is set by councillors at the end of February. 

This is where uncertainty comes in. The work on budget options is underway and until decisions are taken, there cannot be certainty. All I can say to all of you is that I empathise with those who are under notice of redundancy or who are managing one of the number of service redesigns currently underway. 

I can’t take the uncertainty away but I can acknowledge it. Senior trade union colleagues understand the position very well and are doing their job representing their members and voicing concern regarding changes. I want to record here the importance of the work of the trade unions and to also reiterate my request that they work in partnership with us in coming up with the best approach to achieve a more modern, smaller and effective Brighton & Hove City Council in the future. 

Leading the change

Change and uncertainty needs to be led and well managed. And this is one of the reasons for the introduction of our management development programme part of our culture change programme, Living our values, every day.

I met with a number of managers who were completing the programme this week. I wanted to hear their feedback and to support and encourage them in their development. The focus of the programme is the management of self, others and service, with the best outcomes for citizens as its result. 

Meeting managers on the development course

At the heart of the programme is the importance of behaviour which are authentic and consistent with our values. I heard positive examples of new collaboration within the organisation. I also heard of challenges in terms of us being open and efficient. The benefits of such a development programme are often a slow burn rather than an immediate hit.

There was general appreciation that this investment in managers is really crucial at a time that when the demands of public service are changing and becoming more complicated and diverse. I very much hope that this programme will assist managers in leading through change in a time of uncertainty. 

Briefing potential election candidates

Change and uncertainty must certainly have been key themes for potential election candidates when they came to our briefing this week. We had a number of people who are considering standing for election and want to find out what the role of the local authority councillor will be. 

Prospective councillor briefing

It was a very positive session; and benefited from hearing from three current councillors who joined us. Their overwhelming theme was one of living our values and putting the city and its citizens first and foremost when conducting the business of the council. They all agreed that, once elected, the place for campaigning is not the council offices and committees. Their commitment and respectful preparedness to collaborate was impressive. I hope we left prospective candidates with a realistic view of the important role of councillors and the challenging circumstances that are faced both in term of resources and responsibilities.

Our purpose and ambition

So although we do not know who will be in government or indeed in administration of the council in May, we do know that our purpose and ambition will be to provide civic leadership, supporting the wellbeing and aspiration of our citizens and our city and its economy. We do know that we will need to be better managing the opportunities provided by our digital age, to enable citizens to connect and contact us remotely. And we will ensure that those who need face to face communication and support can access that easily. 

Our draft Corporate Plan

We do know that we will need to be sharing more services with other organisations including other councils, building on examples that already exist here. We do know that we need to be working openly with our citizens enabling them to do more for themselves and their communities. We know that we need to sustain our vibrant economy and continue to have an attractive offer for our 11 million visitors a year. And we do know that we have to do the things that prepare the ground for setting a sustainable budget for the next four years. 

That sustainable budget will require us to change, reduce, reimagine and manage uncertainly. For some of us change is exciting, for others it is daunting. I know many of you that work in this organisation would like there to be more certainty and I am only being open with you when I say there are some things that will remain uncertain for some time.

Let’s hold on to that which is certain, namely that we are here as public servants to work in the best interest of the city and all its citizens, particularly to those most vulnerable. Our purpose and our values of openness, respect, collaboration, creativity, efficiency and customer (citizen) focus must guide us.

Our apprentices

And now for a completely different take on change and uncertainty. A group of our current apprentices have made a film explaining why they took this route and what they are getting out of the experience. 

                  
                      Apprentices at Brighton & Hove City Council from SeeThat on Vimeo

All of them have made a change and all are enthusiastic and committed. I have worked with Ellie when she filmed me, and I have met some of the others. I think they are great ambassadors for apprenticeships and for Brighton & Hove City Council. So watch the film and feel the energy, it's less than three minutes long. 

Thank you, as always, for all you do.

Best wishes

Penny

Final paragraph edited Friday 30 January 3pm

A week of reflection

This week’s blog starts with a bang! On Saturday night I enjoyed the fantastic fireworks supported by booming music up at the Nevill Road playing fields to celebrate bonfire night. Well supported by the community and enjoyed by all despite damp conditions, this display has become an annual treat and I am rather proud of the pictures taken on my phone. 

Fireworks at Nevill Road

Fireworks at Nevill Road

Remembrance Sunday

Sunday saw the annual remembrance events around the city and for me the ceremony at the Old Steine was properly poignant, on this centenary anniversary of the start of the First World War. Particularly striking was the number of young people in the parade; the solemnity, and appreciation for the sacrifice of our forefathers and mothers, was moving.

Rememberance Sunday at the Steine. ©Tony Mould: My Brighton and Hove

Rememberance Sunday at the Steine. ©Tony Mould: My Brighton and Hove

Q and A with apprentices 

Monday morning started with an uplifting interview session with two of our council apprentices who are working in HR. They wanted to interview me about the role of coaching in management and leadership as part of a project they are doing for their college work. Their incisive questions and appreciation of the opportunities afforded them by their apprenticeship were really impressive. As you know, I do think coaching has an enormous part to play in delivering an effective learning organisation, which lives its values every day and achieves its purpose on behalf of citizens, business and visitors. I wish Kelly and Lucy really well in their careers as public servants.

Kelly Butler and Lucy Strutt with me

Kelly and Lucy 

One Voice

On Tuesday evening I chaired one the most moving and difficult meetings. This was our One Voice meeting with leading individuals from our Black and Minority Ethnic communities across the city. It was the third meeting of its kind and we came together to discuss how we can work to prevent young people going to Syria and meeting the same fate as three young men from Brighton & Hove have already done. 

There were senior colleagues from the council and our local police chiefs at the meeting, which was cordial, respectful and sad. The key point I took away was the extent of dislocation that some of our local people from BME communities feel as they grow up in the city. There are too many incidents of racism and bullying. We learnt that one of the drivers for radicalisation was the search for meaning and self-worth. 

The feedback from the meeting was positive. People were able to share their concerns and we agreed to move forward with some very practical actions supported by a colleague from a national organisation called Faith Matters. 

I must pay tribute to our community safety, the police and our children services, who have been working well together.  They have been identifing young people at risk and to support individuals and their families to prevent further harm. And also to learn from those instances where young people have gone abroad to Syria. Our One Voice meetings will continue. 

Participants in our One Voice meeting

Proud of our regeneration work

On Thursday, Sir Bob Kerslake, the Permanent Secretary for Department of Communities and Local Government came to visit the city. He came to see first hand some of the regeneration work that is underway and the plans that we have for the future. The well organised tour took in work around the Brighton Station gateway, plans for Circus Street and Preston Barracks, the i360 and the seafront. It was encouraging to be supported by colleagues from the universities, Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership and local businesses and we received some useful live feedback on our plans. 

Sir Bob Kerslake with Phil Jones from Wired Sussex

Julian Crampton, Nick Hibberd, Sir Bob Kerslake and Phil Jones 

Planning for our future

What these highlights from the week don’t include are the many management meetings and conversations that have taken place. We've been focussed on developing and delivering our challenging budget and our corporate plan for the coming years, and discussions with members about the least worst options for balancing our books. These will continue and you can still contribute to the #BHBudget Stop, Start, Change conversation online or in your team meetings.

From a roadshow

I have heard that one of the questions asked at a roadshow last month was: ‘What is the point of Penny’s blog?’ For me, the point is this.  As the chief executive of an organisation of almost 5000 people delivering over 800 services across the city, I can’t possibly connect with everybody on a face to face basis. So through the blog I share some highlights of my week and spotlight some of our work with our important partners. I try give just a flavour of local government and public service. I hope you find it interesting, I'm always keen to hear from colleagues, either through the Wave blog comments or by email.

Have a good and perhaps a drier weekend.

Penny

Protecting the environment, our citizens, our history and our streets

We're all responsible
As I walked to work on Monday morning I was infuriated to find seagull strewn litter just feet away from two substantial and empty bins and I tweeted about this. I was trying to make the point that while we have got to have good and effective street cleaning, refuse and recycling provision, there is also a real need to engage visitors and citizens of our fantastic city. We need a shared commitment to protecting our city, keeping it clean and sparkling.

  

Rubbish around the bin

Big bin nearby with rubbish in the background

Armed Forces week
The theme of protection continued with a ceremony on Monday to mark the start of Armed Forces week. Flags were raised at the Sussex County Cricket ground and an array of old soldiers, councillors and interested public met together at a flag raising overseen by the Lord Lieutenant and the High Sheriff. It was a poignant event where, under a blazing sun, smartly turned out marching cadets were warmly greeted and we remembered the protection that our armed forces afford or have afforded us over the last century.

Celebrating our biosphere
On Monday evening there was a reception to celebrate the designation of the wider Brighton area as the first UN biosphere in the UK in more than 40 years. A biosphere is an area internationally recognised by UNESCO as a leader in balancing conservation and development. Our Brighton and Lewes Downs biosphere is a block of land and sea between the River Adur at Shoreham in the West and the River Ouse at Newhaven in the East. Our bid could not have been successful without the support and work of more than 30 partners including other councils, the RSPB, the National Trust, the South Downs National park, universities, schools and businesses. Our Downs/ City/Coast host environment provides a wonderful habitat for many species of wildlife including a rare orchid and butterfly and we need to work together to ensure we continue to sustainably care for and develop it.

Protecting our children
Later in the week I met with our designated doctor for child protection, Dr Jamie Carter. Child protection is something that has been close to my professional heart for almost 40 years. On top of his day job as a paediatrician, he works for the CCG as the medical specialist lead for safeguarding children and contributes to our local safeguarding board arrangements. He works closely with colleagues in the council led by Pinaki Ghoshal as executive director of Children Services and also with the police and all our other agencies whose shared purpose is keeping the children of Brighton & Hove safe. His knowledge, commitment and team playing were all evident from our conversation and I congratulate him on taking on these responsibilities.

New developments
On Tuesday, Geoff Raw executive director of Environment, Development and Housing took me on a walking tour to examine progress with the Brighton Station gateway and New England Quarter. It was encouraging to see the pavement widening and planting on Queen’s Road and to see the developments at the station including the new café, The Cyclist Brighton, being run by Ed Johnstone which opened this week. 

The Cyclist cafe at Brighton station

I very much liked the design of the bar supported by suitcases and if the food and drink matched the interior design then it will be a really great addition to Brighton station. We also looked at the housing being developed by Hyde in the New England Quarter and walked through the Open Market which is already springing into life with new occupants joining every day in anticipation of a formal opening before long.

Geoff Raw, executive director EDH and Ed from The Cyclist cafe

A city of volunteers
At Brighton and Hove Connected, where community, voluntary, public service and business organisations come together to make real the commitments in the community strategy, we met this week to discuss the role of the community and voluntary sector and our aspirations for improving the life chances of children – two big issues. We learnt that the community and voluntary sector has grown to 2300 organisations in the city (a significant growth since over the last seven years) employing 6900 people with almost 28000 volunteers. This is a large contribution to the life of the city by anyone’s standards. Work will soon be underway to develop a new volunteering strategy for the city. There was a quiet consensus that we must ensure the best possible deployment of our volunteers to support, sustain and improve Brighton & Hove as a fantastic place. We need to tackle the very real inequalities that exist, even in an area as culturally and environmentally rich as ours. Our discussion led to the consensus that our city should be an “everybody friendly” city, which is in line with our council priorities.

To the cells
In a visit to the police cells in Brighton Town Hall, Paula Murray, assistant chief executive and myself, were given a tour by Pat Drake, its tireless supporter and curator. 

Pat Drake and Paula Murray, ACE

We saw protection of society in evidence in different ways. The museum provides not only a history of the police, but also a perspective on the history of Brighton & Hove, as it grew from fishing villages to a city punching its weight on the world’s stage.

Pat and me at the cells

So a theme of protection has been woven throughout my week encompassing the environment, our citizens (particularly the vulnerable ones), our history and our streets.

Let me end by recognising the achievement of those at the City College City Achievers Awards held at Brighton University last night. I accepted an award on behalf of the council as the 2014 winners of City College Brighton & Hove’s Outstanding Employer Contribution Award in recognition our support for apprenticeships with the College.  

All the winners

I attended with Carla Butler, our apprenticeship coordinator and Rachel Maddison, procurement apprentice with the council.  

Rachel Maddison and Carla Butler

Rachel is one of the council’s six new ‘Apprentice Ambassadors’ who will be visiting schools to tell them about apprenticeships.  Well done to everyone involved.

Have a good weekend.
Penny