Deck the Halls...
Some very disappointed journalism students this morning. They turned up for the Council's Executive Committee no doubt expecting to see the cut and thrust of big city politics.
Instead they got a meeting that only lasted twenty minutes (unusual for the Executive which normally manages to drag on for a couple of hours) and no disagreements of any real significance. On the other hand they might have been heartily relieved that they only had to sit through twenty minutes of stodgy municipalism.
My friend and Council colleague Pat Karney has been a long-term advocate of making Christmas last longer and ideally be all-year round so he will be I'm sure delighted that I will be sending my Christmas cards out today, although I'm not sure whether it's my 2009 Christmas cards late or my 2010 Christmas cards early. I am speaking metaphorically because I stopped sending out "Leader of the Council" Christmas cards over ten years ago. Instead what I would have spent on cards now goes to an Educational Awards scheme, first initiated in 2000, to recognise and reward young people of secondary age for their achievements. This lunchtime is the awards ceremony and I'm delighted to be joining the Lord Mayor and Sheila Newman, our Executive Member for Children's Services, in the Town Hall, as they give out the awards.
01/07/2010
I was suprised to see that the council will again be holding the annual awards ceremony for staff. I am a member of staff at MCC and while i agree some staff go above and beyond their job role and should be rewarded, most of us are worried for our jobs and holding this lavish ceremony feels inappropriate after the 25% cut in budget this year. If you want to reward staff, giving vouchers or additional leave would be more economical and probably more appreciated by most.
02/07/2010
I have to disagree with my colleague - as someone who has been fortunate to attend the awards ceremony twice, it's a wonderful event and as far as I can recall was fully covered by commercial sponsorship. I think it's even more important in such dificult times that staff are publicly recognised for their efforts and I've already submitted my nominations!!