Update:
Here's the link to the Islington report mentioned below.
http://www.islington.gov.uk/council/councilfairness/:
Went to the second meeting of the Fairness Commission today. As luck would have it today was also the publication date for the report of the Islington Fairness Commission, and one of the members of that came up to share some of his experiences and advice.
I'll post a link to the Islington report when I can.
What I found really good about the Islington work is that the report's recommendations were easy to understand and were actually directed to somebody or to a particular organisation. These included Islington Council itself, the local chamber of commerce, the Mayor of London etc. That meant that it wasn't a lot of platitudes but some thought out suggestions about practical things that could be done to make Islington fairer.
Obviously a lot depends on whether the recommendations get acted on, but I got the sense that those involved didn't see the report as the end of their work, merely a stepping stone to getting some action.
The first two meetings of the Liverpool Fairness Commission have been scene setting rather than evidence gathering but we seem to be about to move into more evidence gathering mode.
I'll post some links to the Liverpool material when I can.
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Monday, 6 June 2011
Doorknocking again
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Social Liberal Forum Conference
Our first ever conference takes place this month (in a fortnight in fact). Called Liberty, Equality and the State we are aiming to look at policy and do some thinking about some pretty fundamental issues.
It is a Lib Dem led conference and it does include Simon Hughes, Vince Cable and Chris Huhne but we also have speakers from other parties and none.
The event takes place down in London (although we hope in future to have satellite events for people who can't travel quite so far).
I agreed to chair a session. In fact I am doing the kick off plenary which features Simon Hughes, Will Hutton, Neal Lawson and James Graham. Its a sort of scene setting/agenda setting bit which should lead in well to the workshops.
Quite a few of the tickets have already gone, but if you want to find out more about the conference, the SLF website is here
It is a Lib Dem led conference and it does include Simon Hughes, Vince Cable and Chris Huhne but we also have speakers from other parties and none.
The event takes place down in London (although we hope in future to have satellite events for people who can't travel quite so far).
I agreed to chair a session. In fact I am doing the kick off plenary which features Simon Hughes, Will Hutton, Neal Lawson and James Graham. Its a sort of scene setting/agenda setting bit which should lead in well to the workshops.
Quite a few of the tickets have already gone, but if you want to find out more about the conference, the SLF website is here
Woodhey/Bayfield alleygate update
People in the bit off Beechwood Road affected by the ongoing alleygate saga should already be aware but in case there is someone who isn't, here's the update.
All the legal stuff was done when a check showed that the wall we wanted to fix the gate onto wasn't safe enough.
The gate could be fixed sort of freestanding, but then people could simply step around the gate (there would be enough of a gap)
The answer was to pay for a post of some sort to attach the gate to and make sure there isn't a gap.
The Council said it didn't have the money for this.
However there is a small pot of money that the councillors can allocate for projects and I was happy to agree that this should be one of the things we spend on. Credit needs to go to my colleague Richard Oglethorpe who got the costings and pushed hard to get this done.
All the legal stuff was done when a check showed that the wall we wanted to fix the gate onto wasn't safe enough.
The gate could be fixed sort of freestanding, but then people could simply step around the gate (there would be enough of a gap)
The answer was to pay for a post of some sort to attach the gate to and make sure there isn't a gap.
The Council said it didn't have the money for this.
However there is a small pot of money that the councillors can allocate for projects and I was happy to agree that this should be one of the things we spend on. Credit needs to go to my colleague Richard Oglethorpe who got the costings and pushed hard to get this done.
Garston Park Fun Day Coming up - and help needed
Saturday 25th June is the Garston Park Fun Day. The weather was fantastic last time and it was great to see so many people there so fingers crossed for another great day.
The Friends of Garston Park will be there again. This time we're also looking to have a tombola on our stall . We've got some prizes but we could do with some more. If you've got something you can give away to help with this, please either drop it off at 80 Long Lane or drop me an e mail so we can sort out about collecting it. You can contact me at paula.keaveney@liverpool.gov.uk
The Friends of Garston Park will be there again. This time we're also looking to have a tombola on our stall . We've got some prizes but we could do with some more. If you've got something you can give away to help with this, please either drop it off at 80 Long Lane or drop me an e mail so we can sort out about collecting it. You can contact me at paula.keaveney@liverpool.gov.uk
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Doorknocking in South Liverpool
Good evening out door knocking tonight. This is me with Councillors Erica Kemp and Tom Morrison. People really appreciated us calling.
We got round loads of doors although my feet are very tired now.
Friday, 27 May 2011
What a week!
I'm finding it harder to remember to blog as often so I'm experimenting with doing a bit of a weekly diary. This is my diary for this week, which started on 23rd May. It includes my first speech as opposition leader so it's a bit of a biggie.
Monday:
I have a job as well as being involved in politics. It's a job I love as a Lecturer at Edge Hill University and Monday morning was the slot for sessions with first and second year students to get them ready for next year. There is some great potential here and I suspect I am going to have to raise my game to keep up with them. I had a session with a postgraduate student too who is doing a 20,000 word dissertation on marketing through social media. I am the "supervisor" for this which isn't as bossy as it sounds - you are meant to give advice and support. This topic sounds brilliant and I can't wait to read this one.
Monday afternoon was casework time. I am dealing with an avalanche of e mails, not all from my own constituents. I had a meeting with one particular couple with major worries re Council tax. We were able to get it sorted out and they went away happy.
Next came the Lib Dem group meeting. I am still getting used to sitting at the front for this! I shared deteails of the shadow cabinet appointments and we had some good discussions about rebuilding.
Tuesday
A whole day on Council stuff. A lot of office work, casework and planning for the AGM in the evening. A student journalist is doing a documentary about me so I had to think through what would work best in terms of filming.
At 5 it was the Council AGM which is partly the ceremonial around the new mayor, and partly decisions about constitutional stuff. To say I was apprehensive about my first speech as leader would be putting it mildly. It went OK though (even got a couple of laughs at my jokes). Luckily I had managed to research a few anecdotes about the incoming Lord Mayor to use. It is a bit odd sitting in the opposition leaders seat and gazing across at, well, rather a lot of Labour Councillors. However now that I have done it I am not daunted.
Wednesday
I'd like to say I got a lot of solid academic work done but I also had to turn my hand to editing and proofing our Liverpool Lib Dem newsletter. I can see that making every single bit of time count is going to be important.
Back to the ward in the afternoon for a couple of home visits. I recruited a new party member too. In the evening I joined the police at a community meeting to look at local priorities. Still lots of problems in one particular part of the ward and the lack of people able to give evidence is causing a major stumbling block. Richard and I agreed to contact the social housing provider to try to get some more action. Professional witnesses would really help here.
Thursday
Today was the Edgehill Teaching and Learning conference and I was representing my department (media) by giving a talk about how we teach PR. Two students joined me and we were able to explain the pioneering (if a bit risky) approach we take. Lots of enthusiasm from the audience, plus a request from the mayoress of west lancs for some PR support for the mayoral appeal.
In the afternoon I went to the consultation event on the plans to designate Stalbridge Dock as the official "sub regional" waste site for Liverpool. My views on this are well known and this event helped me crystalise what I will say in my submission.
Annoyingly I started the day having to deal with an unfair piece of reporting about the Lib Dems in a local newspaper. This meant finding time to research exactly what had been said to whom and then raising it with the editor (politely - no one likes a shouter). Hopefully they'll print a letter from me in the next few days.
Friday
A key member of staff was about to go on leave today so we spent some time going through tasks for the small team supporting the Lib Dem Councillors. There are plenty of interesting jobs to do and I hope the staff don't find me too odd!
This afternoon was a meeting with the three Cressington Councillors and two officers from neighbourhood management. The management is changing as the administration has made clear decisions about which areas are priorities. Cressington is not a priority we are told and we will have to work around this. Such is life. I am sure we can find creative ways to bridge any gaps.
Satuday
Well Saturday hasn't happened yet but I have the Councillors' surgery and possibly a meeting with local residents about the waste issue. I also have the Lib Dem girl's night out!
Sunday
And if that pile of student marking is anything to go by, I know what I'll be doing on Sunday!
Monday:
I have a job as well as being involved in politics. It's a job I love as a Lecturer at Edge Hill University and Monday morning was the slot for sessions with first and second year students to get them ready for next year. There is some great potential here and I suspect I am going to have to raise my game to keep up with them. I had a session with a postgraduate student too who is doing a 20,000 word dissertation on marketing through social media. I am the "supervisor" for this which isn't as bossy as it sounds - you are meant to give advice and support. This topic sounds brilliant and I can't wait to read this one.
Monday afternoon was casework time. I am dealing with an avalanche of e mails, not all from my own constituents. I had a meeting with one particular couple with major worries re Council tax. We were able to get it sorted out and they went away happy.
Next came the Lib Dem group meeting. I am still getting used to sitting at the front for this! I shared deteails of the shadow cabinet appointments and we had some good discussions about rebuilding.
Tuesday
A whole day on Council stuff. A lot of office work, casework and planning for the AGM in the evening. A student journalist is doing a documentary about me so I had to think through what would work best in terms of filming.
At 5 it was the Council AGM which is partly the ceremonial around the new mayor, and partly decisions about constitutional stuff. To say I was apprehensive about my first speech as leader would be putting it mildly. It went OK though (even got a couple of laughs at my jokes). Luckily I had managed to research a few anecdotes about the incoming Lord Mayor to use. It is a bit odd sitting in the opposition leaders seat and gazing across at, well, rather a lot of Labour Councillors. However now that I have done it I am not daunted.
Wednesday
I'd like to say I got a lot of solid academic work done but I also had to turn my hand to editing and proofing our Liverpool Lib Dem newsletter. I can see that making every single bit of time count is going to be important.
Back to the ward in the afternoon for a couple of home visits. I recruited a new party member too. In the evening I joined the police at a community meeting to look at local priorities. Still lots of problems in one particular part of the ward and the lack of people able to give evidence is causing a major stumbling block. Richard and I agreed to contact the social housing provider to try to get some more action. Professional witnesses would really help here.
Thursday
Today was the Edgehill Teaching and Learning conference and I was representing my department (media) by giving a talk about how we teach PR. Two students joined me and we were able to explain the pioneering (if a bit risky) approach we take. Lots of enthusiasm from the audience, plus a request from the mayoress of west lancs for some PR support for the mayoral appeal.
In the afternoon I went to the consultation event on the plans to designate Stalbridge Dock as the official "sub regional" waste site for Liverpool. My views on this are well known and this event helped me crystalise what I will say in my submission.
Annoyingly I started the day having to deal with an unfair piece of reporting about the Lib Dems in a local newspaper. This meant finding time to research exactly what had been said to whom and then raising it with the editor (politely - no one likes a shouter). Hopefully they'll print a letter from me in the next few days.
Friday
A key member of staff was about to go on leave today so we spent some time going through tasks for the small team supporting the Lib Dem Councillors. There are plenty of interesting jobs to do and I hope the staff don't find me too odd!
This afternoon was a meeting with the three Cressington Councillors and two officers from neighbourhood management. The management is changing as the administration has made clear decisions about which areas are priorities. Cressington is not a priority we are told and we will have to work around this. Such is life. I am sure we can find creative ways to bridge any gaps.
Satuday
Well Saturday hasn't happened yet but I have the Councillors' surgery and possibly a meeting with local residents about the waste issue. I also have the Lib Dem girl's night out!
Sunday
And if that pile of student marking is anything to go by, I know what I'll be doing on Sunday!
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