Chief Executive Blog - November 2015
Dear Colleagues,
There can be few things more satisfying from a local authority’s point of view than seeing new opportunities open up for those that it has supported in times of need and when they have been at their most vulnerable.
It was a privilege for me just the other day to attend a low-key yet inspirational event to coincide with National Care Leavers’ Week.
The event was a celebration of those young people who are beginning to make their way in the world after – in some cases – many years of living within the care system. Also in attendance were many of the carers who had taken children, as they were then, under their wing and shared with them their homes and family life. Also there were members of council staff who, in different ways, helped and supported these young people through what were often difficult and troubled times.
It was a humbling experience to meet young men and women who have demonstrated such resilience in dealing with a wide range of very challenging circumstances and who are now looking forward with confidence to adult life and positive destinations.
Over the past month I have had the honour of attending two events which were graced with the presence of a Royal visitor.
The Princess Royal presented some of the awards to successful students at Moray College UHI’s annual graduation ceremony at Elgin Town Hall, while only a few days later the Duke of Kent officially opened the new Cullen Sea School. I had met the Princess on several occasions previously but the Duke was a new addition to my list of Royal handshakes.
Some of you will also be aware that October saw the publication of the final report by Audit Scotland on the Best Value audit report on Moray Council. It is a largely positive report which acknowledges the progress that the council has made while recognising that there is still some way to go. I and my CMT colleagues have every confidence that the progress that has been made can be maintained despite the many challenges that lie ahead.
Other notable events have included the meeting in Elgin of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands, chaired by the Deputy First Minister John Swinney, and a visit to the council by the chief executive of Scotland Excel, Julie Welsh.
Looking ahead, I will be at the third and final employee conference on November 19 when the venue will be the Fishermen’s Hall in Buckie and I am sure it will be every bit as successful and well received as the September conference at Forres and last month’s event at Elgin Town Hall. As well as having the opportunity to meet and chat with staff from across all council departments and sections, it is good to get out and about and see first-hand what is going on in other parts of Moray.
Later in the month I will be attending the latest long service awards ceremony at Elgin Town Hall where the annual Special Thanks and Recognition (STAR) awards will also be presented to those who have made outstanding contributions to the work of the council and the services it provides.
Over the next couple of weeks there will also be a series of evening community engagement sessions at venues across Moray when the focus will be on Moray 2023 and the Moray Health and Social Care Partnership’s strategic plan.
Prior to all of these, and in a personal capacity, I will be attending the Remembrance Sunday service on the Plainstones in Elgin this weekend.
On a domestic note, early November has seen me perform the annual ritual of making the family Christmas cake. It was a tradition which began several years ago when I made some throwaway comment to a friend of my wife as they discussed preparations for Christmas.
Suffice to say that since then the task of providing the Christmas cake has fallen on me.