It was this big...

Do you remember when Brussels dictated that because of the run on cod stocks, in future fishermen would only be allowed to land cod of a prescribed size?

I heard last week of the British Government's response to this prescriptive and protectionist legislation. Did they argue for a change to the legislation? No. Did they push for a change to our quotas? No. Did they seek to expand the protected zone to our fishing waters? No.

No - they immediately employed three hundred-odd "fish measurers". Civil servants at every port, employed to measure the size of fish landed, bringing down revenge and retribution on any British fisherman who happened to bring back an undersized cod.

Spain? They employed fish measurers too. How many?

Three...

Well done June

Having sampled the delights of the Grand Hotel in Torquay, and the Great Western train service to Paddington, I'm back home!

Today was quite hard work, as my two new friends from South West Provincial Employers and I probed the commitment of Torbay Council into training and developing their elected Members. Time and again we heard from Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and Independents the secret of their success. It was June Godsalve.

A manager within the Democratic Service section, June had been tasked with working on Member Development. Despite initial hiccups, funding issues, and the inclination of elected members anywhere in the country to never admit to needing any kind of training, June persevered.

And because she was dedicated, passionate, professional and enthusiastic about her job, she made it happen.

It just made me think how lucky Councils up and down the country are to have their own June.

It's what makes local government work. Well done June.

The good, the bad and the CPA team

So the inspectors have left the building. Friday saw KCC's Seminar Lecture Theatre packed to the rafters with staff and councillors to hear the Audit Commission's seven-strong team give us their feedback on three weeks of inspection.

We heard that they felt KCC was "unusually outward-looking"; that we sought "the wider well-being of the community - often beyond the traditional sphere" and how we had an "open staff culture"; "empowered managers" and "high calibre Cabinet, managers and staff".

But we also heard we could be "dazzled by our own brilliance"; that we should "lighten up" and "develop modern community leadership".

The presentation of findings lasted for over an hour, and left us feeling quietly hopeful that we can retain our four star excellent status. The inspectors will now write up their report and defend it against a Consistency Panel" in March, before giving KCC a chance to appeal against anything, before which the star rating will be published in early June.

For the sake of our staff, our Members, and the Kent taxpayer who receives our services, I sincerely hope we keep our four stars, but learn from the experience and make the County Council even better.

A Comprehensive Performance

As part of Kent County Council's current inspection by the Audit Commission this morning was my turn to be interviewed about Kent Adult Social Services.

I spent just over an hour with Jane Scott, Leader of Wiltshire County Council and Rita Lally, Director of Adult Services at Buckinghamshire County Council.

We discussed a whole range of issues, and I endeavoured in an hour to give some idea of just what was important to us in delivering the best social care to the people of Kent.

It was a tall order, but a very full conversation. Time alone will tell whether I and my colleagues across KCC have been able to prove to the Comprehensive Performance Assessment inspectors that kent deserves to retain its current "Four Star Excellent" status.