Not a good week in the Nationals

One could get a bit down about the results of the national polls this week but in fact I was more than encouraged because frankly I thought we in for a far more severe beating across the country. Mid term, having had to take very unpleasant decisions to get back to a level of national borrowing acceptable in a very uncertain global market. On top of that we are in a coalition so solid Conservative policies have had to be watered down, and the press fighting for their life over the hacking row which inevitably spins into macro government effecting public confidence. So what to make of the situation and how will it affect us locally? Well if the nation was so concerned about the direction being followed by David Cameron and his team I would have expected a far higher turnout at the polls. I think there must be a correlation between the facts that old fashioned complacency kicks in when the population is comfortable with the political direction followed. Not that gives me a great deal of satisfaction because I think that the right to vote is paramount to our democratic values and should be executed at every opportunity. Locally it is my intention to follow the strategy set this year and now incorporated in our corporate plan in the areas of Community, Housing, Economy, and Environment whilst maintaining a firm grip on Performance. For the last twelve months I have been looking inwards at all the processes that make the Council work and understanding how to get the best out of our partnership with East Dorset but more importantly how to maintain core services with a greatly reduced financial and human resource. I have now group support to follow a much more positive approach to delivering outcomes through our portfolio holders in the five areas mentioned above, as well as energising ward Councillors to be active in delivering community benefits in their wards. At the same time I am making sure that the process of delivering committee decisions is efficient and free of duplication. Committees absorb resources’ so our processes have to recognise our concentration on core Council issues. In an established structured Council like Christchurch this is easier said than done but I am confident that with the current management team, culture will not prevail over strategy. Now is the time to start to look outwards and use all the advantages we have developed over the last year. We have high calibre Councillors in concert with an accountable and highly experienced management team, we have our strategy set, we are attacking silo thinking, and prioritising financial performance. Our aim is to increase productivity, reduce costs, increase income and focus on outcomes that bring benefit to our community. All very exiting really.