@ReadingLabour runs joint candidates with @cooperativeparty

As a member of the Cooperative party I'm really pleased that in Reading we are making this link more high profile:

Eight prospective Labour councillors in Reading and Wokingham, who are also members of the Co-operative Party are standing on a joint Labour and Co-operative Party ticket this year.
The Co-operative Party has existed for nearly 100 years, and is the political wing of the wider Co-operative movement (the shops, the banks, etc.) It stands joint candidates with the Labour Party, and there are for example 29 Labour and Co-operative MPs.

The candidates are, for Reading Council:
Duncan Bruce (Thames)
Rachael Chrisp (Park)
Richard Davies (Caversham)
Tony Jones (Redlands)
Liz Terry (Minster)

and for Wokingham Council:
Greg Bello (Bulmershe and Whitegates)
Matthew Dent (Remenham, Wargrave and Ruscombe)
Tim Jinkerson (Finchampstead North)

Will Cross, Chair of the Reading Co-operative Party, says “I'm really pleased that for the first time we have Labour and Co-operative candidates for the local elections, especially because 2012 is the International Year of Co-operatives. The Co-op movement's key principles include self responsibility, self help, community involvement in decision-making, and Fair Trade, and our candidates have shown
real commitment to these values.”

Sarah King, Chair of Reading & District Labour Party, adds: “When we have a Conservative - Lib Dem Government imposing such significant cuts and unwanted competition to public services it is important for us
to consider what can be delivered through co-operation. I look forward to hearing from the Labour and Cooperative councillors about their ideas to improve council services based on co-operation, by involving
staff and those using services.”

"Making a difference" - from my work newsletter

A version of this appeared in my work staff newsletter, I've adapted it slightly.  Regular readers will probably not find this informative as they have probably picked up what I do and most irregular readers may find it a bit long and self indulgent.  However for anyone who is interested in balancing a day job with the work of a councillor this might be of interest.

As accountancy tutors we have a real chance make a difference to our student’s lives: furthering their careers and improving their understanding of the world.  A lot of us also do things out of work to support others, whether through volunteering, school governing or even being a magistrate:  I’ve been asked to talk about my experience as an elected councillor.

I’ve always had strongly held political beliefs and been passionate about a better world.  I was already a school governor when I was selected to stand for the council.  Being an elected councillor is in my view one of the best ways to support your local community.  I carefully keep my politics out of my work, although students do sometimes spot me in the local paper.  I also find there’s a lot of crossover of ideas between the roles and my CIMA training helps with both, while not being shy in front of groups of people is pretty crucial.

I have strong views about the direction of government policy (clue – I’m in the Labour party!) but regardless of that as a local councillor it’s extremely important to do the best you can in the circumstances for your residents and while the different parties have different priorities on this we can at times work together.

Of course there are times when it looks quite exciting – there are jokes in the office about my celebrity lifestyle, like last week when I had to run off to speak to BBC news in a break from teaching before dashing back to do a radio interview.  Most of being a councillor is much more mundane, if more rewarding: meeting a huge range of people, listening to their problems and trying to get the best for them is key for any ward councillor.

Becoming a council cabinet member means a real step up in responsibility. The text book stuff I teach in class about delivering change, managing a budget and HRM becomes a whole lot more real when you have to cut 10% from a budget that’s already been cut by more than that the previous year; deciding whether to merge the role of Chief Executive with Director of Resources; or a major reform of Housing finance means almost doubling the council’s debt. Being a qualified accountant has been incredibly helpful during the many hours I’ve spent working with fellow councillors and council staff to understand the implications of proposals. Often what at first sight might seem like a small detail after analysis could turn out to mean something like cutting the library book fund or have severe impacts on the disabled or elderly. 

I was proud that despite the circumstances this year we had – for the first time in Reading’s history I believe – a budget that the main opposition parties supported. In Reading there are no library closures, no cuts to social care, not a single youth worker made redundant along with a council tax freeze and fee increases averaging around inflation. Some hard decisions were made about senior management, organisational structure and methods of service delivery but it was described by opposition councillors as “a budget which protects services to people who need them most whilst also responding to concerns expressed by residents”. I can’t imagine Ed Balls saying that about an Osborne budget (or vice versa) – a good example of the difference there can be between national politics and local politics!

We always advise our students to manage their time effectively and let’s face it, it’s something as faculty we have to do as well whether its student queries when we’re trying to prep, family or something else.  Balancing teaching, looking after my daughter and meeting with residents, council staff and fellow councillors – not to mention my three email accounts continuously overflowing isn’t straightforward.  Sometimes I do wonder what I’m doing, a thought I’m sure many reading this have had in their own experiences.  Ultimately though seeing the difference you can make to other people’s lives is the reason I get up in a morning and I have great opportunities to do that.

#Rdg is a 'city' even if we don't have the badge

When a place is named one of the top 5 European cities it's kind of strange not to have city status.  In fact last week I had to correct Chief Executive of the Crown Estate to explain we aren't a city.  So while it would be nice to be officially recognised and in particular for promoting ourselves internationally I think we can say we don't really need to the endorsement - although it would have been really nice to have.  I know Chelmsford quite well having spent part of my teenage years attending a Chelmsford school and I hope that city status will be a boost for them.

Council's official reaction below:

Reading community and business leaders have expressed disappointment that the town has not been recognised in its bid to become a city.

Commenting on the decision, Jo Lovelock, Leader of Reading Borough Council, said: 'Working with partners from across the local community, we submitted a very strong bid, highlighting Reading's excellent credentials as a city-in-waiting.

'It is disappointing that the decision has not gone in our favour - particularly when we have just been named European Micro City of the Future and 5th best European city overall by fDi magazine.'

'Whatever the official position, we will continue to behave like a city and to play an increasingly important role in the economic success of the region.'

'On behalf of the people of Reading, I would like to congratulate Chelmsford, Perth and St Asaph on achieving City Status and to wish them every success in the future.'

The town was amongst 25 UK destinations which had submitted an application to be bestowed with the civic honour in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year.

Tim Smith, Executive Director of Reading UK CIC, and Chair of the City Status Partnership Board added: 'While it would have been nice to become the City of Reading, this really doesn't change anything for us. We will continue to out-perform and out-class most other towns of our size in the UK. Outsiders usually think of us as city in any case: we'll remain a city in all but name.'

The news that Chelmsford, Perth and St Asaph received the honour of City Status will be a relief to the bookies who had Reading as odds-on favourite right the way through the submission period.