More training

Yesterday's training session was about Children's Services. It was well presented and interesting, with some useful discussion stimulated by Cllr Alexandra Nicholson, one of the new Conservative councillors, who has a double interest here, since she is a teacher who appears likely to be giving birth at any minute!
It seems that one of the officers was at York University at the same time as me, though as far as I know, our paths never crossed.
The whole senior tier of management in this Department is new, having been appointed within the past six months or so, with one vacancy still to be filled. There have been major changes made in the organisation of the Department.
Refreshingly, the officers were quite open about the challenges facing this Department, with some of the key Government indicators showing Darlington at or near the bottom of national league tables in educational achievement and performance. This situation, of course, pre-dates the new regime there.
Unfortunately, as is always the case when interesting training presentations are made, time ran out too quickly, so we were only able to get a brief overview of the social services part of this Department.
Also unfortunately, Mark Burton was not in fancy dress http://www.harrowgatehill.co.uk/index.php?option=com_joomlaboard&Itemid=29&func=view&catid=8&id=1339
Today it's Community Strategy and tomorrow it's Corporate Services. Then on Friday there's a Special Meeting of the Full Council at 12.45pm. And that lot doesn't include all the evening meetings councillors have to attend, either in their ward or in their respective local parties.