Blog Posts

  • If you ever wondered what side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test!

    Clearly this originated in the US but does have some parallels here. If a conservative doesn’t like guns, he doesn’t buy one. If a liberal doesn’t like guns, he wants all guns outlawed. If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn’t eat meat. If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned… Read more

  • Europe – a decision is required

    The issue of our membership of the European Union is complex and it seems that most people have a view on it. What started out as a common market allowing free trade between member states has grown into an entity in its own right. It has ambitions of financial and political union across all member… Read more

  • Cambridge to become a super connected city

    Cambridge has won a share of £50 million Government funding to become a super-connected city as part of countywide plans for better broadband across Cambridgeshire. In addition to the Government funding announced today, Cambridgeshire County Council is investing up to £20 million together with £3 million from Peterborough City Council to improve broadband to stimulate… Read more

  • Cycle ambulance – great response

    In a shop at lunchtime I found one of the two salesman slumped in a chair and unresponsive. When we got him to respond he complained of pins and needles in his arms and of feeling unwell. As this was a male in his 50’s with heart trouble in the family I asked for a… Read more

  • County Council – Chairman’s reception

    Sunday evening was spent at the Chairman’s reception held at Shire Hall. This occurs every two years and is an opportunity for John Powley and his wife Jill, to say thank you to everyone they have been in contact with over his nearly two years as Chairman. Given the austere times a modest affair was… Read more

  • Future Councils: New Ways of Working and Delivering Public Services

    I was asked to speak at this event in London. I shared my experiences of setting up our shared services with Northamptonshire ( LGSS ) to a significant number of councillors and officers from around the country. I was able to tell them about the significant savings we have made to date and how we… Read more